Medical question for Peta! (or anyone)

[jeriendhal]

Assuming extensive third degree burns around one's throat, would there by a chance of damage around the victim's voicebox, or should they be more worried about their blood literally boiling in their carotid(sp) artery?

Why yes, this is related to my nano...

Comments

[chewipaka.livejournal.com]

I don't think they would worry about the blood boiling in their carotid artery so much as the flesh and muscle and artery burning away and dying of massive blood loss.

Severe second degree burns, however...no clue. But probably more for what you are looking for. Especially since third degree burns are usually fatal, for the reasons just listed above.

[estokien.livejournal.com]

For reference - 1st Degree - warm and red, like sunburn, skin deep, time and lotion works fine

2nd degree, blisters, red goes deep can be white around blistered areas, burning from heavy steam could cause this, risk of infection from blisters popping, longer to heal

3rd degree, flesh actually loses all moisture and burns, black charring, high infection risk as skin is gone, probably requires skin grafts, extensive exposure to fire will cause this.

So 3rd degree is definitely hot enough to boil blood by definition since the moisture has to be escaping, probably depends on how long the heat is being applied and how much fat is insulating. For most people it would have a good chance of being fatal one way or another I would think.

[secoh.livejournal.com]

Probably not directly from the burn but certainly from anything inhaled that was causing the burn or pressure on the neck.
It would certainly be uncomfortable to talk even if the voice box was unharmed

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Third degree burns are caused by temperatures well below the boiling point of water, so no, the blood would not boil. In a situation where large third degree burns occur around the throat, the temperatures and/or conditions causing those burns will be fatal to the individual before the carotid could be breached -- you'd get pulmonary edema and ARDS. If this was a very thin area of 3rd degree burn, say, caused by acid or alkali burn, then it could be survivable with scarring, but the larynx would be affected if the burn crossed that area. Third degree burns mean the skin is devitalized, with contracture and restriction of movement.

(friend of James Nicoll, btw)

[chaypeta.livejournal.com]

Another though is that the victim must continue to breath despite getting burnt. If she inhales heated smoke, cinders, toxic gases that would most definately affect her larynx and probably her lungs causing local swelling and oedema, it may make swallowing difficult and leave her hoarse or voiceless at least for a while... possibly permanantly if her vocal chords are badly damaged. She would also be at risk of throat or lower respiratory tract infection.

Third degree burns are very nasty. Literally the dermal layer of skin is destroyed.. meaning that the skin cannot regenerate itself which is why it is treated with skin grafts. Without skin grafts healing is VERY slow as it must occur from the outer edges of the burn inwards and often results in constrictures and terrible scarring. Around the throat that alone may cause breathing and eating problems over the long term.

Also the amount of swelling caused by a bad third degree burn around the throught may neccessitate the insertion of a breathing tube to keep the trachea open as swelling would put preassure on it and may force it to close, particularly if the cartilege rings which support it have also been compromised.

(Sorry about the late reply... hope this is still useful to you.)

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

No worries. I'm sure I find some use for it in the future. Evil grin