Smoke inhalation injury from newer synthetic building materials—a patient who survived 205 days

Abstract A 25-year-old factory worker sustained inhalation injury and 2 per cent deep burns while lighting a fire in his factory (LSI factory) which was made of new synthetic building materials. He became unconcious and inhaled noxious substances from the smoke. Although he survived the acute stages following injury, his pulmonary function subsequently deteriorated with a damaged trachea and bronchi, repeated attacks of pneumonia, atelectasis, pneumothorax and lung fibrosis, leading to death with hypereapnia ( P aco, more than 100mmHg) after 205 days in hospital. Autopsy revealed scarring contraction and dilatation of the trachea and bronchi, acquired bronchicetasis, tobular pneumonia, bleeding, hyperaemia and ocdema of the lungs. Systematic administration of corticosteroids was only transiently beneficial in reducing the increased airway resistance.