J Korean Med Assoc.  2008 Dec;51(12):1087-1096. 10.5124/jkma.2008.51.12.1087.

Respiratory Diseases in Firefighters and Fire Exposers

• Jung TH

• KMID: 2185968
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2008.51.12.1087

Abstract

With the increasing use of synthetic chemical based products in building construction in recent decades, there has been growing concern over the health hazards to firefighters and fire exposers from the inhalation of the toxic components of smoke. Toxic combustion products can have profound effects on the respiratory system, causing symptoms, physiologic changes, and chronic diseases. Prompt evaluation is important and should include chest films, pulmonary function testing, arterial blood gas analysis, and bronchoscopy. Positive findings require aggressive management with adequate oxygenation, ventilation, pulmonary toilet, and fluid resuscitation. Clinicians caring for individuals who have sustained inhalation damage to their respiratory tract need to comprehensively understand the mechanisms, natural history, management, and prevention of acute inhalation injury, so that they can help individual patients recover without serious complications.

Keyword

Fire; Firefighter; Smoke inhalation; Lung injury

MeSH Terms

Blood Gas Analysis
Bronchoscopy
Chronic Disease
Firefighters
Fires
Hazardous Substances
Humans
Inhalation
Lung Injury
Natural History
Oxygen
Pulmonary Ventilation
Respiratory Function Tests
Respiratory System
Resuscitation
Smoke
Thorax
Hazardous Substances
Oxygen
Smoke

Figure

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  Figure 1 Temporal evolution of smoke inhalation can be characterized by acute and chronic effects upon airways and lung parenchyma. Acute respiratory injuries may resolve completely or, less often, lead to permanent dysfunction (4).

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  Figure 2 Laryngoscopic findings 3 (A); 16 (B); and 78 (C) days after extubation, showing posterior commissure stenosis (arrow) of the vocal cords, with anterior adhesion (arrowhead) (3).

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  Figure 3 Bronchial soot (A) on bronchoscopy and bronchial casts (B) removed from one fire victim (3).

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