Table 1 Clinical scoring and grading of inhalation trauma

1

History of being trapped in a house or industrial fire in an enclosed space

2

Production of carbonaceous sputum

3

Peri-oral facial burns affecting nose, lips, mouth, or throat

4

Altered level of consciousness at any time after the incident and including confusion

5

Symptoms of respiratory distress, including a sense of suffocation, choking, breathlessness, and wheezing or discomfort affecting the eyes or throat, indicating irritation of the mucous membranes

6

Signs of respiratory distress, including stertorous, labored breathing, and tachypnea or auscultatory abnormalities, including crepitations or rhonchi

7

Hoarseness or loss of voice

B. Severity of inhalation trauma [16]

0

No injury

Absence of carbonaceous deposits, erythema, edema, bronchorrhea, or obstruction

1

Mild injury

Minor patchy areas of erythema or carbonaceous deposits in proximal or distal bronchi

2

Moderate injury

Moderate degree of erythema, carbonaceous deposits, bronchorrhea or bronchial obstruction

3

Severe injury

Severe inflammation with friability, copious carbonaceous deposits, bronchorrhea or obstruction

4

Massive injury

Evidence of mucosal sloughing, necrosis or endoluminal obliteration