Table 1 Comparisons between facial burn patients who did and did not undergo intubation in the ED

Demographics

  Age

38.0 ± 16.1

42.2 ± 18.9

0.064

  Male

91 (75.2%)

167 (78.0%)

0.648^‡

Types of burn (N, %)

 < 0.001^‡

  Flame burn

94 (77.7%)

100 (46.7%)

  Scald burn

1 (0.8%)

49 (22.9%)

  Chemical burn

16 (13.2%)

47 (22.0%)

  Electrical burn

10 (8.3%)

18 (8.4%)

TBSA (%)

27.9 ± 23.1

9.8 ± 5.5

 < 0.001

Condition upon ED arrival

  SBP (mmHg)

154.1 ± 31.1

155.6 ± 28.6

0.652

  Pulse (/minute)

99.8 ± 20.2

93.2 ± 64.4

0.219

  RR (/minute)

20.9 ± 4.1

19.9 ± 8.6

0.516

  Temperature (°C)

36.3 ± 0.7

36.4 ± 0.7

0.694

  GCS

13.8 ± 2.6

14.7 ± 1.1

 < 0.001

  RTS

7.6 ± 0.6

7.8 ± 0.1

 < 0.001

Laboratory examinations and imaging studies

  pH

7.3 ± 0.1

7.4 ± 0.1

 < 0.001

  PaCO₂ (mmHg)

38.2 ± 13.0

36.5 ± 6.1

0.175

  HCO₃⁻ (mmol/L)

21.2 ± 3.8

23.4 ± 4.6

 < 0.001

  SaO₂ (%)

90.5 ± 16.1

96.4 ± 61.5

0.315

  HbCO (%)

3.4 ± 4.2

2.2 ± 1.7

0.008

  Positive CXR (N, %)

63 (52.1%)

49 (22.9%)

 < 0.001^‡

Positive physical examination

  Nostril hair (N, %)

51 (42.1%)

27 (12.6%)

 < 0.001^‡

  Eye (N, %)

35 (28.9%)

31 (14.5%)

0.001^‡

  Hair (N, %)

31 (25.6%)

25 (11.7%)

0.001^‡

  Cough (N, %)

6 (5.0%)

3 (1.4%)

0.053^‡

  Sore throat (N, %)

6 (5.0%)

3 (1.4%)

0.053^‡

  Hoarseness (N, %)

9 (7.4%)

2 (0.9%)

0.001^‡

  Dysphagia (N, %)

1 (0.8%)

0 (0.0%)

0.183^‡

  Shortness of breath (N, %)

24 (19.8%)

4 (1.9%)

 < 0.001^‡

  Exposure to smoke (N, %)

24 (19.8%)

11 (5.1%)

 < 0.001^‡