BLAST LUNG INJURY: OUR EXPERIENCE AT A TERTIARY CARE MILITARY HOSPITAL

Ahmed Mujadid Burki; Saira Mahboob

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v71i2.2601

Authors

Ahmed Mujadid Burki Combined Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Saira Mahboob Combined Military Hospital Okara/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v71i2.2601

Keywords:

Blast lung injury, Mortality, Mechanical ventilation, Non-invasive ventilation

Abstract

Objective: To study the management and mortality in patients with blast lung injury at a tertiary care military hospital.

Study Design: Prospective, observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Intensive Care Unit, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, from Jan 2013 to Dec 2014.

Methodology: After approval from Hospital Ethics Committee, 38 patients diagnosed with blast lung injury who were admitted to intensive care unit were included in our study.

Results: The mean age was 29.68 ± 4.3 years and all the patients were male. The incidence of blast lung injury in trauma patients was 38 (10.2%). Most of the patients 18 (47.4%) had severe ARDS due to blast wave and most of the patients 28 (73.6%) required mechanical ventilation with lung protective strategy. The mortality in patients diagnosed with blast lung injury was 2 (5.2%).

Conclusion: Blast lung injury is a common complication in survivors of bomb blast. As military doctors who treat both armed forces as well civilian casualties from blast injuries; the physician treating blast injury should be conscious of risk of patient developing blast lung injury; so that early recognition and prompt management with lung protective strategy can prevent increased morbidity and mortality.