title: Primary blast lung injury - a review.
abstract: Bomb or explosion-blast injuries are likely to be increasingly encountered as terrorist activity increases and pre-hospital medical care improves. We therefore reviewed the epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment of primary blast lung injury.
  In addition to contemporary military publications and expert recommendation, an EMBASE and MEDLINE search of English speaking journals was undertaken using the medical subject headings (MeSHs) ‘blast injury’ and ‘lung injury’. Review articles, retrospective case series, and controlled animal modelling studies published since 2000 were evaluated.
  6-11% of military casualties in recent conflicts have suffered primary blast lung injury but the incidence increases to more than 90% in terrorist attacks occurring in enclosed spaces such as trains. The majority of victims require mechanical ventilation and intensive care management. Specific therapies do not exist and treatment is supportive utilizing current best practice.
  Understanding the consequences and supportive therapies available to treat primary blast lung injury are important for anaesthetists.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Military Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, ICT Centre, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, UK.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JQ, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kirkman
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesia & Critical Care Research Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Nottingham University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.affiliation: Room MBF4, Main Building, Institute of Naval Medicine, Crescent Road, Alverstoke, PO12 2DL, UK.
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Gibb
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Military Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, ICT Centre, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesia & Critical Care Research Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Nottingham University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hardman
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*