title: Primary blast injuries--an updated concise review.
abstract: Blast injuries have been increasing in the civilian setting and clinicians need to understand the spectrum of injury and management strategies. Multisystem trauma associated with combined blunt and penetrating injuries is the rule. Explosions in closed spaces increase the likelihood of primary blast injury. Rupture of tympanic membranes is an inaccurate marker for severe primary blast injury. Blast lung injury manifests early and should be managed with lung-protective ventilation. Blast brain injury is more common than previously appreciated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge St. #810, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. dyeh2@partners.org.
authors.forename: Daniel Dante
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Schecter
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005107:Explosions; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D023481:Terrorism; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices