blast injury

blast injury

n.

The tearing of lung tissue or rupture of abdominal viscera without external injury, as by the force of an explosion.

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blast injury

Trauma medicine An injury due to explosions or rapid decompression, the severity of which is a direct function of the intensity of the blast wave; death is caused by exsanguination from ruptured pulmonary vessels with hemorrhage, hemoptysis, air embolism, hypoxia, and respiratory failure; other lesions include cardiac contusion, causing arrhythmia, rupture of hollow organs, cerebral injuries–parenchymal hemorrhage and air embolism, and rupture of tympanic membranes Treatment Supportive; if air embolism is present, hyperbaric oxygen is indicated; other facets of blast injuries include impinging flying objects and whether the subject was submerged or free-standing at the time of the explosion. Cf Nuclear war.