Pleural effusion in drowning.
The factors that determine the amount of pleural effusion in cases of drowning have not been well established. In a series of cases of drowning from the years 1987-1991, several parameters have been registered to determine whether any correlations could be found between these and the amount of pleural fluid in the drowning victims. A statistically significant difference was found between the cases with and those without increased pleural effusion, indicating that the time spent in water is correlated to the production of pleural fluid. A significant difference was also found between saltwater and freshwater drownings, indicating that more pleural fluid is produced in saltwater than in freshwater drownings.
D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004332:Drowning / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D012623:Seawater; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide; D013997:Time Factors