Efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure in casualties suffering from primary blast lung injury: A modeling study

Primary blast lung injury is the most important component of a multisystem syndrome of injury that results from exposure to an explosive shockwave. The majority of such casualties require ventilation in an intensive care unit. We describe the use of a novel primary blast lung injury simulator to evaluate the potential efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure in 6 in silico casualties over 24 hours after injury. Our results suggest that primary blast lung injury is a form of acute lung injury that can be effectively managed with continuous positive airway pressure. In austere environments or in circumstances where medical resources are overwhelmed, continuous positive airway pressure using ambient air may be of benefit.