Lungs, blast injuries lung injury

Because of the high flexibility as an altemative to the lognormal distribution the Weibull distribution is tested using the high explosive consequence sample data of Table 6. We use an empirical dataset of dummies simulating lung blast injuries [43]. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005a). Blast lung injury What clinicians need to know. Retrieved June 17,2006, from http //www.bt.cdc.gov/masstrauma/pdf/ blastlunginjury.pdf... 

Significant primary blast injury only occurs in those who have been exposed to high blast loading and are consequently very close to the point of detonation (remember the pressure distance curve. Fig. 3.2). As a result, most such casualties will have died from secondary or tertiary injuries. However, reflection and summation in closed spaces may be associated with a significant incidence of primary injuries in survivors of atrocities in areas such as bars and buses. In one Israeli bus bomb incident, incidences of 76% for eardrum perforation, 38% for blast lung and 14% for abdominal blast injury were found. 

The heart is clearly at risk of direct penetrating injury. Such injuries have a poor prognosis. In blast lung, air may enter the circulation via traumatic alveolo-venous fistulae. Clinical consequences usually arise from impaction in the coronary or cerebral circulations (see p. 111-112). Such embolisation is widely considered to be one of the most likely causes of sudden otherwise unexplained death following blast exposure. Signs of coronary or local air emboli are given in Box 3.11. 

Clinical primary blast injury to the lungs ( blast lung ) appears to be rare in survivors of conventional explosions. There is considerable variation in the incidence of blast lung amongst survivors, depending on the site of the detonation (enclosed or open) and the presence or absence of fragments which themselves could result in fatal injury. 

Clinical and radiological features may occur almost immediately or their appearance may be delayed for up to 48 hours. Symptoms may not be seen until sudden deterioration has already occurred. A period of observation is therefore mandatory for all patients at risk of blast injury to the lungs. 

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DlC) and hypokalaemia (before intravenous fluid therapy) have both been associated with blast lung injury. Conventional therapy including fresh frozen plasma... 

The main direct, primary effect to humans from an explosion is the sudden increase in pressure that occurs as a blast wave passes. It can cause injury to pressure-sensitive human organs, such as ears and lungs. 

Blast waves from explosions may cause overpressure injury as a result of a combination of overpressure and duration at a given distance. For instance, the threshold of lung rupture may be 70 kPa (0.7 atm) overpressure for 50 ms or 140-210 kPa (1.4-2.0 atm) overpressure for 3 ms. 

One criterion for the level of incapacitation is holistic. Whether a victim dies from a bullet to the head or blast to the lungs, they are still dead and the armour has failed to protect them. This means that vulnerability to different threats and the combination of separate injuries must be considered. 

A part-time helper had drilled and loaded a series of blast holes. His mother and sister were there to observe the blasting. After preparing for the blast, his mother and the other workers left the area. The sister wanted to take pictures of the blast, so she remained. They backed off ISO feet from the blast site to take pictures. When the blast was detonated, the helper was hit on the head by a large piece of flyrock and was killed instantly. His sister suffered massive chest injuries and a punctured lung. 

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