Anti-personnel mine injuries: pulmonary complications may ensue along unanticipated timelines.

BACKGROUND

Anti-personnel mine injuries (APMI) confined to the lower limbs (type I) are common, however, their remote effects on the lungs are exceptional. The present study was done to analyze the pulmonary complications following type I mine blast injuries.

METHODS

APMI managed between Jan 2020 and Oct 2023 at a military facility in Jammu & Kashmir were audited, focusing upon the pulmonary complications.

RESULTS

Twenty-four males, aged 21-42 yrs, had sustained type I injuries due to accidentally stepping over the mines, during the study period. Six of them (25%) developed pulmonary complications of post-blast lung injury (PBLI) in a delayed timeline, hitherto unseen ie after 36-72 h of injury. Two patients (8%) developed concurrent pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), unexpectedly early, necessitating therapeutic anticoagulation in the immediate postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

PBLI and PTE may follow type I mine blast injuries in an unanticipated timeline. Continued suspicion for timely detection of blast lung and early thromboprophylaxis to prevent PTE is suggested.