Air embolism can occur as a complication of which blast injury type?

• A. Primary Blast Injury
• B. Secondary Blast Injury
• C. Tertiary Blast Injury
• D. Quaternary Blast Injuries

Answer: (A)

Air embolism arises from the pressure wave itself acting on air-filled structures, especially the lungs. In primary blast injury, the blast overpressure damages lung tissue (pulmonary barotrauma), and air can escape into the pulmonary veins, then travel to the heart and systemic circulation to form emboli. This mechanism makes air embolism a classic complication of primary blast injury. Secondary blast injuries involve projectiles causing penetrating trauma, tertiary injuries come from the body being thrown and sustaining blunt trauma, and quaternary injuries include other effects like burns or inhalation injuries—these do not typically produce air embolism through pulmonary barotrauma.