The mechanism of destruction can be classified in one of four ways: upper airway injury, lower airway injury, pulmonary parenchymal injury, and systemic toxicity. The extent of damage from an inhalation injury depends on the environment and the host; the source of injury, temperature, concentration, and solubility of the toxic gases generated, and the response to that injury by the individual.Inhalation injuries cause formation of casts, reduction of available surfactant, increased RAW, and decreased compliance, leading to acute lung injury and ARDS.
