Table 7.2. Spectrum of Primary Blast Injury on Body Systems
| System |
Injuries |
| Respiratory |
Pulmonary contusion |
| Pulmonary hemorrhage |
| Respiratory failure |
| Stripped-epithelium lesion |
| Alveolo-venous fistula |
| Bronchopleural fistula |
| Pneumothorax |
| Traumatic emphysema |
| Air embolism |
| Acute respiratory distress syndrome |
| Gastrointestinal (GI) |
GI hemorrhage |
| GI perforation |
| Spleen or liver hemorrhage or rupture |
| Retroperitoneal hemorrhage |
| Tunica albuginea (testis) hemorrhage |
| Auditory |
Tympanic membrane rupture |
| Ossicular chain disruption |
| Cochlear nerve injury |
| Labyrinthine fistula |
| Perilymphatic fistula |
| Circulatory |
Coronary embolism |
| Myocardial contusion |
| Thrombosis/disseminated intravascular coagulation |
| Central nervous system (CNS) |
Cerebral air embolism |
| Retinal artery embolism |
Source: Sharpnack DD, Johnson AJ, Phillips Y. The Pathology
of Primary Blast Injury. In: Bellamy RF, Zajtchuk R, eds. Conventional
Warfare: Ballistics, Blasts, and Burn Injuries. Washington, DC: Office
of the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army; 1991: 271-94
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