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ABSTRACTS AND R E V I E W S 259 Regardmg exaimnation of electrocardiograms, the researchers bemg laymen, detailed analyses could not be made, but discussions were attempted from the viewpoint of safety at time of fire Zikria, B. A., Weston, G. C , Chodoff, M., and Ferrer, J . M. (Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Umversity, New York, New York) "Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Poisomng in Fire Victims," The Journal of Trauma 12(8), 641 (1972) Section: K Subjects: Smoke, Carbon monoxide, Fire victims. Casualties, Fire casualties, Deaths, Asphyxia, Car boxy hemoglobin, Poisoning by CO Authors' Summary Analysis of the causes of death of 534 fire victims with 311 autopsies indicates 1 A majority (53%-60%) of these victims died in less than 12 hr following the accident 2 Respiratory tract involvement was found in 70% of deaths under 12 hr and in 46% of victims who survived over 12 hr 3 Considenng respiratory tract pathology, 71% of the pneumoma/pneumomtis group hved beyond 12 hr and 77% of the pulmonary edema/congestion group lived less than 12 hr 4 Considering respiratory tract involvement, smoke poisomng or asphyxia was the most common primary diagnosis (53 5%) m the deaths under 12 hr 5 Seventy-mne per cent of those havmg primary diagnosis of smoke poisomng or asphyxia had CO poisomng 6. Of 185 autopsied victims surviving less than 12 hr, 58 6% had CO poisomng, vnth 24 3% having had lethal levels of carboxy-hemoglobin 7 Of 105 victims with less than 40% body surface burns, 77% should have survived, but the majority of deaths (76%) were related to respiratory in- volvement 8 Analyses of data strongly suggest that, since there is a large early respiratory mortality among fire victims, sigmficant reduction of mortahty could be effected by makmg available respiratory resuscitative therapy for CO poisomng, smoke poisomng, and asphyxia at the scene of a fire, en route to a hospital, and m hospital emergency service
