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Near-Drowning/Drowning, Sports Medicine

Kevin Waninger, MD, MS, FAAFP, FACEP, FACSM, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

  • Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion (airway goes below the surface of the liquid)/immersion (water splashed over the face) in water 1,2.

  • The terms “dro...

DIAGNOSIS

Pediatric Considerations
  • Hypothermia may be protective, as the rate of cerebral oxygen consumption is reduced.

  • Diving reflex in young children is triggered by submersion of face in cold water,...

TREATMENT

  • Prehospital:

    • Airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs), remove wet clothing, initiate rewarming as soon as possible, intravenous (IV) with 0.9% normal saline (Watch fluids in patients with pu...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • Prognosis of resuscitated drowning victim is related to degree of damage secondary to the anoxic episode and the duration of immersion and pulmonary insult.

  • Residual complications...

REFERENCES

1
Bierens JJ, Lunetta P, Tipton M, et al. Physiology of drowning: a review. Physiology (Bethesda).  2016;31(2):147–166.
2
Szpilman D, Bierens JJ, Handley AJ, et al. Drowning. N Engl J Med...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Engel SC. Drowning episodes: prevention and resuscitation tips. J Fam Pract.  2015;64(2):E1–E6.

  • Idris AH, Berg RA, Bierens J, et al. Recommended guidelines for uniform reporting...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Medical authorities traditionally made a great distinction between salt water and fresh water drowning. The theory was that because of its high salt content, seawater in the lungs woul...

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