Severe lung contusion and death after high-velocity behind-armor blunt trauma: relation to protection level.
The most-used safety recommendation for protective vests is that the impact should not cause more than a 44-mm impression in plasticine. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this criterion was sufficient if the vest was exposed to a high-velocity projectile. We tested the hypothesis with pigs divided into a 40-mm group (n = 10) and a 34-mm group (n = 8) protected by a vest allowing a 40-mm or 34-mm impression in plasticine, respectively. Five (50%) of 10 animals in the 40-mm group and 2 (25%) of 8 in the 34-mm group died due to the trauma. We observed severe lung hematoma, impaired circulation, desaturation, and electroencephalogram changes. These effects were more aggravated in the 40-mm group compared to the 34-mm group. Based on our results, the overall judgment is that the safety criterion of 44-mm impression is insufficient when a vest is exposed to a high-velocity projectile.
Gryth
Dan
D
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Rocksén
David
D
Persson
Jonas K E
JK
Arborelius
Ulf P
UP
Drobin
Dan
D
Bursell
Jenny
J
Olsson
Lars-Gunnar
LG
Kjellström
Thomas B
TB
D000818:Animals; D003288:Contusions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011481:Protective Clothing; D013552:Swine; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality
D011188:Potassium