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3.14.5 - Ballistic Injuries

from Section 3.14 - Environmental Injuries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2023

Ned Gilbert-Kawai
Affiliation:
The Royal Liverpool Hospital
Debashish Dutta
Affiliation:
Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow
Carl Waldmann
Affiliation:
Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading
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Summary

Key Learning Points

  1. 1. Blast injuries may be split into primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary injuries.

  2. 2. There are two major mechanisms of injury that occur via a gunshot wound: crushing tissue destruction by the path of the projectile, and stretching and shock by the formation of a temporary cavity.

  3. 3. The path of a bullet is very unpredictable and, as such, must be extensively investigated radiologically to see the full path and extent of the damage.

  4. 4. Treatment of patients with ballistic injuries can be simplified into three main steps: resuscitation and primary surgery, restoration of normal physiology in the ICU and return to theatre.

  5. 5. A thorough repeat full external examination should always be considered on admission to the ICU, especially if the patient becomes unstable and no identifiable cause is identified.

Type
Chapter
Information
Intensive Care Medicine
The Essential Guide
, pp. 428 - 432
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

References and Further Reading

Brett, S. Blast injury and gunshot wounds: pathophysiology and principles of management. In: Bersten, AD, Soni, N (eds). Oh’s Intensive Care Manual, 6th edn. Elsevier; 2009. pp. 867–76.Google Scholar
Frangos, SG, Freitas, M, Frankel, H. Intensive care of the trauma patient with ballistic injuries. In: Mahoney, PF, Ryan, JM, Schwab, CW (eds). Ballistic Trauma. London: Springer; 2005. pp. 445–64.Google Scholar
Goorah, S, Hindocha, S. Management of ballistic soft tissue injuries: a review. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences 2013;8:2835.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hull, JB, Bowyer, GW, Cooper, GJ, et al. Pattern of injury in those dying from traumatic amputation caused by bomb blast. Br J Surg 1994;81:1132–5.Google ScholarPubMed
Rabinovici, R, Frankel, H, Kaplan, L. Trauma evaluation and resuscitation. Cure Probl Surg 2003;40:599681.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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