Alexeeff et al reported a smoke inhalation clinical scoring system. This can help to identify a patient with smoke inhalation. A patient with smoke inhalation may be at risk for carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide poisoning.
Parameters:
(1) hoarseness
(2) stridor
(3) carbonaceous sputum
(4) soot in airway
(5) singed hairs at the nasal vestibule (vibrissae)
(6) facial burns
(7) abnormal ausculation
(8) change in mental status
(9) abnormal chest X-ray within 36 hours (< 36 hours) of arrival at the hospital
|
Parameters |
Finding |
Points |
|
hoarseness |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
stridor |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
carbonaceous sputum |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
soot in airway |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
singed nasal hairs |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
facial burns |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
abnormal auscultation |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
change in mental status |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
1 |
|
abnormal chest X-ray within 36 hours |
absent |
0 |
|
|
present |
2 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 9 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 10
• Patients with evidence of smoke inhalation are at increased risk for carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide poisoning. Detected levels of these toxins is affected by when samples are collected.
Purpose: To evaluate a burn victim using the smoke inhalation clinical scoring system of Alexeeff et al.
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
Objective: severity, prognosis, stage
ICD-10: T27,
