2017 Volume 31 Issue 4 Pages 448-452
A 57-year-old male was injured by accidental slaughter gun discharge at a fish processing plant. A helicopter ambulance was called. He received tracheal intubation and drain placement in the right thoracic cavity, and was transported to our hospital. II a-type bilateral lung injury (diffuse lung contusion), II a-type thorax injury (sternal fracture), and airway hemorrhage were noted, and artificial respiratory management was initiated. Multiple contusions in the precordium and bilateral forearms were closed with sutures. Perforation of the right tympanum was observed on the 6th hospital day. The lung contusions gradually healed. The patient was weaned from the artificial respiration on the 8th hospital day, and transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation by independent walking on the 22nd hospital day. Physicians in Japan have little experience with blast injuries. Although it was a small-scale explosion, the blast was likely to have caused the tympanum injury and lung contusions. We report this case because it may provide helpful suggestions for the treatment of blast injuries.
