Delayed asphyxia due to inhalation injury.

We report the case of a 53-year-old man who was found dead in his apartment 2 days after a little fire during which he had suffered from second to third degree burns at 2% of the body surface, also involving the skin around the mouth and the nose. At autopsy, severe acute emphysema and mucopurulent obstructive laryngotracheobronchitis were observed. The histology showed desquamative loss of the respiratory epithelium up to the middle bronchi; the bronchial lumen was filled with clumps of mucopurulent secretions mixed with necrotic epithelial cells. The cause of death was a delayed asphyxia due to inhalation injury.