Paediatric near-drowning: mortality and outcome in a temperate climate.
The decision whether to continue to resuscitate the paediatric victim of near-drowning is influenced by potential poor neurological outcome. A low core body temperature at presentation is frequently cited as a reason to continue resuscitation. We report the case of an 11 month old infant admitted to the intensive care unit following near-drowning and a prolonged resuscitation. The infant's core body temperature was 29 degrees C. Cardiac output was restored, but the child remains in a persistent vegetative state. We present the results of a ten year review of near-drowning in a tertiary referral institution, to evaluate the mortality and outcome in a temperate climate. Thirteen patients were identified in the review. The mortality was 23%. The incidence of a persistent vegetative state was 15%. Asystole, immersion time greater than 15 minutes, resuscitation time longer than 30 minutes, the administration of epinephrine, and a low core body temperature were associated with a poor outcome.
Crowe
S
S
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland. suzbar@gofree.indigo.ie
Mannion
D
D
Healy
M
M
O'Hare
B
B
Lyons
B
B
D001831:Body Temperature; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D015701:Near Drowning / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies