blast injury

Blast Injury a violent increase in pressure either in the atmosphere (air blast) or in water (immersion blast). With air blast, the compression wave impinges on the side toward the explosion and so may collapse the thorax or violently compress the abdomen, with rupture of internal organs. The pressure wave may enter the airways and damage the alveoli. The following wave of decreased pressure, with its sudden expansion of the abdomen and thorax, may rupture the intestines or lungs. In immersion blast, the pressure is supplied to the body from all sides, inducing injuries similar to those of air blast.