Does Blast Exposure to the Torso Cause a Blood Surge to the Brain

摘要: The interaction of explosion-induced blast waves with the torso is suspected to contribute brain injury. In this indirect mechanism, wave-torso assumed generate a blood surge, which ultimately reaches and damages brain. However, hypothesis has not been comprehensively systematically investigated, potential role, if any, mechanism in causing injury remains unclear. interdisciplinary study, we performed experiments developed mathematical models address knowledge gap. First, conducted blast-wave exposures Sprague-Dawley rats shock tube at incident overpressures 70 130 kPa, where measured carotid-artery pressures while limiting exposure torso. Then, three-dimensional (3-D) fluid-structure (FSI) neck cerebral vasculature and, using pressures, simulations predict mass flow rates wall shear stresses vasculature. Finally, 3-D finite element (FE) model used FSI-computed drive FE quantify blast-exposure effects tissue. measurements from torso-only revealed marginal increases peak (from 13.1 28.9 kPa). Yet, relative blast-free, normotensive condition, FSI for predicted rate up 255% base stress 289% on contrast, our suggest that effect brain-tissue-strain response negligible (<1%). summary, analyses show causes sudden abundant stream rapidly propagate through This surge considerable increase network, may lead functional structural veins arteries, leading vascular pathology. findings do support notion strain-induced brain-tissue damage due mechanism.