Alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient in the burn patient

1)A presumptive diagnosis of inhalation injury by the occurrence of a "closed-space" burn and the presence of facial burns, singed nasal vibrissae, ronchi and wheezes as clinical criteria was often in error in our study group. 2) A-a O2 gradient and change in A-a gradient in our group of patients was of value in predicting the development of pulmonary dysfunction.