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File:IPLab12Burns13.jpg|The damage to the tracheal epithelium and the black carbonaceous material is present down to the level of the terminal bronchioles.
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== Study Questions ==
* <spoiler text="What was the proximate cause of death in this patient? What other factors played a role in this patient's demise?">This patient died of respiratory failure. The gross and microscopic evidence of smoke inhalation and burn injury to the nose, throat and lungs are indicative of severe lung injury. Inhalation injury is seen in over 80% of patients with a burn size of 85% or more of the total body surface area. Carbon monoxide poisoning also contributes to the early death in inhalation injury.
An additional factor that likely would have lead to death of this patient was the severity and the extent of the body surface area that was burned. Clinical management of a patient with burns this severe would be very difficult. Shock and sepsis are common problems in these patients.</spoiler>
* <spoiler text="What is the significance of the fatty liver and the blood alcohol level noted in this patient?">The fatty liver and the elevated blood alcohol level indicate that this patient was severely incapacitated by alcohol prior to the fire. The patient was likely in an alcoholic stupor when the fire broke out and could not escape.</spoiler>
{{IPLab 12}}
[[Category: IPLab:Lab 12]]
