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Notice to Readers: Blast Lung Injury: What Clinicians Need to Know
Worldwide terrorist activity increases the risk for injuries related to explosions; however, few health-care providers in the United States have experience treating these injuries. To address this concern, ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø has added the fact sheet, "Blast Lung Injury: What Clinicians Need to Know" to the Mass Trauma Preparedness and Response page on the ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø website (). Basic clinical information regarding the presentation, evaluation, management, and outcomes of blast lung injury (BLI) is provided; a chest radiograph of BLI also is included.
BLI is a direct consequence of a blast wave from a high-explosive detonation striking the body and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality both at the scene and among initial survivors. The impact on lungs results in tearing,
hemorrhage, contusion, and edema. BLI is a clinical diagnosis characterized by respiratory difficulty and hypoxia, which can occur without obvious external injury to the chest.
BLI presents unique triage, diagnostic, and management challenges. A list of references and readings on BLI is
provided with the fact sheet. Information regarding other injuries resulting from explosions is provided on the Mass
Trauma Preparedness and Response page.
Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.References to non-ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø sites on the Internet are
provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply
endorsement of these organizations or their programs by ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø or the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø is not responsible for the content
of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of
the date of publication.
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