吸入性损伤的病理生理学反映了吸入暴露的异质性。吸入损伤的大类包括热损伤、窒息、全身性毒性作用和直接损伤气道。[11]Miller K, Chang A. Acute inhalation injury. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2003;21:533-557.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12793627?tool=bestpractice.com尽管火灾时温度极高,但火灾中的干燥空气能基本不保留热量,热量会在上气道内快速消散。因此,热损伤通常只发生在最上面的气道,造成水肿和气道不畅。[2]McCall JE, Cahill TJ. Respiratory care of the burn patient. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2005;26:200-206.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15879741?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Pruitt BA, Flemma RJ, DiVincenti FC, et al. Pulmonary complications in burn patients. A comparative study of 697 patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1970;59:7-20.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5409956?tool=bestpractice.com 蒸汽损伤是例外,在这种情况下,蒸汽的巨大热容量会超过气道的散热能力。[13]Balakrishnan C, Tijunelis AD, Gordon DM, et al. Burns and inhalation injury caused by steam. Burns. 1996;22:313-315.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8781728?tool=bestpractice.com当高浓度的惰性气体取代氧气时,会造成单纯的窒息。被吸收的组织性窒息剂(例如一氧化碳和氰化氢)与脱离暴露环境后发生的损伤相关性更强,能中断细胞氧输送产生长期代谢影响。[11]Miller K, Chang A. Acute inhalation injury. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2003;21:533-557.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12793627?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Kealey GP. Carbon monoxide toxicity. J Burn Care Res. 2009;30:146-147.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19060737?tool=bestpractice.com 被吸收的许多其他气体会引起全身性毒性和炎症。在烧伤患者中,由于皮肤烧伤,有毒物质可经体表吸收,导致急性肺损伤在这一人群中有较高的发生率。[15]Enkhbaatar P, Traber DL. Pathophysiology of acute lung injury in combined burn and smoke inhalation injury. Clin Sci (Lond). 2004;107:137-143.http://www.clinsci.org/content/107/2/137http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15151496?tool=bestpractice.com此外,气态和颗粒物质能造成气道细胞直接损伤,导致支气管收缩、水肿、上皮细胞死亡和腐肉形成、气道廓清减少及气道廓清。[1]Rabinowitz, PM, Siegel MD. Acute inhalational injury. Clin Chest Med. 2002;23:707-715.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12512160?tool=bestpractice.com[11]Miller K, Chang A. Acute inhalation injury. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2003;21:533-557.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12793627?tool=bestpractice.com