blast injury

blast in·ju·ry

tearing of lung tissue or rupture of any tissue or organ without external injury, as by the force of an explosion.

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 haemorrhage, haemoptysis, 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
Management 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

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.

blast in·ju·ry

(blast in'jŭr-ē)

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