[Burn patients and their respiration problems].

The characteristic features of respiratory disorders in burn patients are presented in a review of the literature. Respiratory disorders in burn patients are related to a direct mechanism, when the bronchial tree is injured by the transfer of thermal energy due to the burn, and/or by an indirect mechanism, when the lung's respiratory and ventilatory function is impaired by localized, regional, or general burns-related phenomena. These respiratory disorders are aggravated by the inhalation of gases contained in smoke. Diagnosis of these disorders is clinical and paraclinical, and has to be performed early and continuously. The patients require various types of therapy, e.g. oxygen therapy, clearing of the airways, improvement of ventilatory mechanics and respiratory function, antibiotic therapy, or surgical correction of sequelae. This taking in charge inevitably has to be multidisciplinary.