Advances in the research of blast lung injury

In recent years, a variety of explosive weapons become increasingly common used in regional military conflicts and terrorist bomb attacks. Meanwhile, the incidence of accidental explosion also showed an increase in the industries and daily life. The lung is the most labile organ and it is used to be severely injured organ in blast injury although even no signs of external injury could be observed on chest. Blast injury can present the symptoms such as lung rupture, bleeding, edema and emphysema. Respiratory dysfunction can affect oxygen supply to organs and systemic tissue, resulting in rapid and sustained hypoxemia and high mortality rate. Blast lung injury is characterized by respiratory disturbance and hypoxia. This article summarizes the etiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiological changes, diagnosis, and treatment of blast lung injury, with a hope to provide some useful clinical information.