Signs and Symptoms

The following are symptoms and signs of abdominal primary blast injury.

Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Haematemesis
• Malaena

Signs:

• Haemodynamic instability
• Tenderness
• Peritonism
• Free gas on radiological examination

These may be evident at initial presentation, but may be delayed by up to 7 days if perforation occurs secondary to mesenteric infarction or ischaemia [3]