Primary study of tracheotomy time after inhalation injury

Objective To investigate the way of improving clinical effects of inhalation injury Methods Seventy six patients with inhalation injury from 1985～1999 and their complete data were investigated retrospectively The patients were grouped according to their tracheotomy time within 6 hours (48 cases, called group one) or after 6 hours (28 cases,called group two) and the clinical effect were contrasted in the aspects of arterial partial pressure of blood and oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, multiple organ failure and death toll and cure situation Results Arterial partial pressure of blood and oxygen of the group one are obviously higher than those of the group two after 6 hours,while partial pressure of carbon dioxide are obviously lower than those of the group two after 48 hours The multiple organ failure cases of the group one are 13 (13/48) and the group two are 15(15/28) The death cases of the group one are 6(6/48) while the group two are 13(13/28) The survive cases of the group one are 42 (42/48), the group two are 15(15/28) There is remarkable difference ( P 0 01) in these aspects between the two groups Conclusion Moderate and severe inhalation injuries are all indication of tracheotomy , the most effective time of inhalation injury tracheotomy is within 6 hours after injury