Blast Injuries Flashcards Preview

2018 VU Trauma > Blast Injuries > Flashcards

Flashcards in Blast Injuries Deck (18)
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1
Q

How is the shock wave from a blast transmitted?

A
  • It is transmitted radially from the source into the surrounding medium.
2
Q

What are the 3 phases of a blast wave?

A
  • Positive phase
  • Negative phase
  • Mass movement of wind (blast wind)
3
Q

What is the defining characteristic of a conventional explosive?

A
  • The variation in ambient pressure over time
4
Q

What happens to ambient air pressure during the positive phase?

A
  • It causes a rapid increase in ambient air pressure
5
Q

What two factors affect the biological effects of a conventional blast?

A
  • Peak overpressure

- Duration of positive phase

6
Q

What are the categories of blast injury?

A
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
  • Combined
7
Q

What structures are most susceptible in a primary blast injury?

A
  • Gas filled structures

- Lungs, GI tract and middle ear

8
Q

What are characteristics of secondary Blasts?

A
  • They are the results from flying debris and bomb fragments
9
Q

What types of injuries would be suspected in Secondary blast injuries?

A
  • Penetrating ballistic or blunt injuries

- Eye penetration

10
Q

What are the characteristics of a tertiary blast?

A
  • The result of individuals being thrown by the blast wind.
11
Q

What types of injuries are suspected in tertiary blasts?

A
  • Fractures and traumatic amputations

- Closed and open brain injury

12
Q

What are the characteristics of a quaternary blast?

A
  • All other injuries that could be related to the blast, that is not due to primary, secondary and tertiary.
13
Q

What types of injuries will be seen in quaternary blast injuries?

A
-	Burns
o	Flash, partial and full thickness
-	Crush injuries
-	Closed and open brain injury
-	Asthma, COPD, or other breathing problems
-	Angina
-	Hyperglycaemia
-	Hypertension
14
Q

What is the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in blast injuries?

A
  • Lung issues
15
Q

What is the most consistent sign of a pulmonary blast injury?

A
  • Haemorrhage
16
Q

What is air Emboli?

A
  • It is the result from a traumatic alveolar- venous fistulae
17
Q

What is a GI blast injury more likely to occur?

A
  • After a blast wave propagation in water
18
Q

What section of the GI tract is most common to GI haemorrhage from blast damage?

A
  • The lower small intestine or cecum, where gas accumulates.