LAUSR

Purpose of ReviewUnfortunately, improvised explosive devices (IED) are now used outside the battlefield and their associated injuries are now seen in civilian hospitals. Recent terror attacks in which IEDs were used in the United States and Europe have resulted in a large number of civilian casualties. Despite the rise in these attacks across the globe, they remain infrequent outside combat zones.Recent FindingsVictims of an IED explosion present unique challenges for anesthesiologists. The number of casualties, range and severity of injuries and treatment priorities correspond to the type of IED, the amount of explosive material it contains, and the location i.e., where it is placed in relation to the number of potential casualties and structures that can contain the blast.SummaryAn understanding of blast characteristics, as well as the mechanism of injury and management of injuries, has the potential to improve the care of patients who have sustained traumatic injury from an IED.