The admission chest radiograph after acute inhalation injury and burns

The admission chest radiographs of 29 patients admitted with acute inhalation injury and burns, who required ventilatory support, were analysed for signs of inhalation injury. Four were excluded because of a history of chronic bronchitis or cardiac failure. 13 had radiological signs of inhalation injury, which included oedema of a nodular, consolidatory and interstitial pattern, and linear opacities due to atelectasis. 12 chest radiographs were normal. Inhalation injury in burns cases often requires clinical, bronchoscopic and blood gas assessment. Although changes were noted on 13/25 chest radiographs, the admission chest radiograph is an insensitive indicator of airway and parenchymal lung damage following acute inhalation injury and burns. We draw attention to the fact that significant lung damage may be present even with a normal initial chest radiograph.