title: An analysis of prognostic factors for submersion accidents in children.
abstract: The case histories of 47 consecutive pediatric submersion victims admitted to the Changhua Christian Hospital from 1983 to 1990 were retrospectively reviewed for patient status on arrival and eventual outcome. Age, sex, season, location, estimated submersion time, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene, vital signs on arrival, Orlowski score, modified physiologic stability index (PSI) scoring system were analyzed. Patient outcome, based on the status at discharge, was categorized as (1) 22 patients survived intact, with normal findings on neurologic examination; (2) 10 patients had neurologic insults, with abnormal neurologic findings including mental retardation; (3) 15 patients died. The results clearly demonstrated that there were no differences among these three groups in the variables of estimated submersion time, CPR at the scene, referral from local medical clinics. The prominent characteristics of pediatric submersion were male (74%), age below three years (64%), summer season (45%) and fishpool (60%). The favorable prognostic factors were a body temperature greater than thirty-five centigrade, detectable heart beat and respiration on arrival, Orlowski score below two and PSI below seven.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Changhua Christian Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Cherng
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004332:Drowning / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis