Near-drowning in Pediatric Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Siriraj Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To study characteristics, treatment and outcome of near-drowning patients in Pediatric Respiratory Care Unit (P-RCU), Siriraj Hospital


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed hospital records of 31 near-drowning patients admitted at P-RCU Siriraj Hospital during 1990-2002.


RESULTS
The average age of admitted patients was 4 years (ranged from 6 months to 13 years). Seventy percent of the patients were under 5 years of age. Male : female ratio was 2.1 : 1. Sixty-two percents of the patients were left alone when near-drowning occurred. The sites of occurrence were around their houses in 60% of cases. Bystander resuscitation was documented in 35%. Common complications were pneumonia (74.2%) and seizure (58%). Patients with poor outcome were children without spontaneous purposeful movement within 24 hours after submersion. Neurological sequelae was found in 35.5% of the cases and the mortality rate was 25.8% (3 due to severe pneumonia from prolonged intubation and aspiration, 2 due to severe brain hypoxia, 2 due to severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 1 due to intracerebral hemorrhage)


CONCLUSIONS
Due to poor outcome observed in this study, prevention of submersion injury is the most important and cost-effective measure. However, if near-drowning happens, effective immediate resuscitation is crucial for the best outcome.
Susiva
Chakraphan
C
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. sikch@mahidol.ac.th
Boonrong
Thitima
T
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D015701:Near Drowning / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology