Thin-Section CT in patients with smoke inhalation injury

Objectives: To identify and describe the thin-section computed tomographic findings of inhalation injury in burned patients, to determine which findings contribute to subsequent pulmonary complications. Methods: Thin-section CT scans of 90 burned patients with smoke inhalation injury were retrospectively reviewed. Individual CT features were assessed and recorded by one observer. Lung lesion patterns seen at CT, bronchoscopic findings, laboratory data and clinical consequences were analyzed. Results: 43 (47.8%) were found to have abnormal CT findings that were compatible with inhalation injury; 28 (65.1%), to have peribronchial ground glass opacity; 14 (32.6%), to have segmental or subsegmental consolidation; 17 (39.5%), to have atelectasis; 12 (27.9%), to have branching linear attenuation; 7 (16.3%), to have bronchial wall thickening; 5 (11.6%), to have interlobular septal thickening; and 1 (2.3%), to have bronchiectasis. The age, sex, burn size, initial carboxyhemoglobin level and PaO2/FiO2 ratio showed no significant differences (P > 0.05), however, hospital stays, initial C-reactive protein level, interval between admission and CT examination, initial admission to intensive care unit, frequency of E-tube insertion and development of pneumonia were significantly higher and more frequent in patients who had abnormal CT scans than in those who did not have (P Conclusions: CT helps to identify the lung parenchyma involvement of inhalation injury, and abnormal CT scans are thought to be confronting more frequent respiratory complications which might result into prolonged hospital stays in burned patients after smoke inhalation.