People who escaped the fire in Crans-Montana are not only dealing with external burns, but also with serious lung damage caused by toxic gases. Pulmonary specialist René Fiechter points out that lung damage triggers a chain of other health complications.
After the tragedy in Crans-Montana in the Swiss Valais, the seriously injured have a long road to recovery. Lombardy director of health Guido Bertolaso (75) drew attention to another serious problem. According to him, for the Italian victims, the condition of the lungs is much more serious than the burns themselves. The expert announced this after visiting the Niguarda hospital in Milan, where twelve injured people were being treated.
“All these young people must have been inhaling highly toxic substances,” said Bertolaso. “These substances cause a number of problems, especially of an infectious nature, which are extremely difficult to manage.”
Blick turned to pulmonologist René Fiechter, who heads three lung centers in Aathal, Baden and Einsiedeln. According to him, the lungs, unlike the skin, are exposed not only to thermal stimuli. Toxic substances, such as carbon monoxide, can cause a lack of oxygen in the body, infections and even multiple organ failure. There is also a risk of acute respiratory failure – sudden and life-threatening lung failure.
In medicine, damage to the airways and lungs after inhaling toxins is called inhalation trauma. Fiechter explains that it often leads to blockage of the tiny branches of the lungs, which are crucial for getting air to where it is needed. Their small size and delicate structure make them very vulnerable. Possible consequences include bronchospasm – spasmodic narrowing of the bronchi, which makes it difficult for air to flow. The airways shrink like a compressed straw, the body does not receive enough oxygen and carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood.
The pulmonologist adds that the lungs can no longer remove foreign substances and bacteria. On the contrary, inhalation trauma further promotes their accumulation. “This increases the risk of bacterial superinfections and can lead to sepsis,” points out Fiechter. The question is whether the lungs of fire victims can recover at all. “Lung regeneration is possible, especially with milder injuries. However, with extensive injuries, recovery may be incomplete and lead to permanent limitations,” explains the expert. “Treatment usually takes several weeks, complete recovery is rare in severe cases,” he added.
At the moment, several dozen victims of the fire are hospitalized in hospitals in Switzerland and abroad. The University Hospital in Zurich provided Blick with the latest information. “All patients suffered inhalation trauma in addition to extensive burns,” said spokesman Marcel Schlatter. “The gases, hot fumes and flames caused burns not only on the surface of the body, but also inside. There was damage from the throat to the lungs,” concluded.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
