TY - JOUR
T1 - Survival after prolonged submersion in freshwater in Florida
AU - Modell, Jerome H.
AU - Idris, Ahamed H.
AU - Pineda, Jose A.
AU - Silverstein, Janet H.
PY - 2004/5
Y1 - 2004/5
N2 - A 2-year-old boy was submerged for at least 20 min in a freshwater creek in Union County, FL. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered for approximately 1 h at the scene and during transport to the hospital. On arrival, his Glasgow coma scale score was 3 and rectal temperature was ≤ 26.7°C. He demonstrated respiratory failure, intense vasoconstriction, hemoglobinuria, anemia, hypercoagulability, thrombocytosis, leukopenia, and persistent coma. With intensive care, he began emerging from the coma after 72 h and progressively improved. Testing at the Developmental Evaluation Center and clinical observations showed him to be completely normal by 6 months after drowning. Thus, severe, rapid hypothermia can occur during drowning in cold water in any geographic location and at temperatures above those necessary for ice formation. Hypothermia provides cerebral protection from hyporia, permitting total recovery with appropriate CPR and intensive care.
AB - A 2-year-old boy was submerged for at least 20 min in a freshwater creek in Union County, FL. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered for approximately 1 h at the scene and during transport to the hospital. On arrival, his Glasgow coma scale score was 3 and rectal temperature was ≤ 26.7°C. He demonstrated respiratory failure, intense vasoconstriction, hemoglobinuria, anemia, hypercoagulability, thrombocytosis, leukopenia, and persistent coma. With intensive care, he began emerging from the coma after 72 h and progressively improved. Testing at the Developmental Evaluation Center and clinical observations showed him to be completely normal by 6 months after drowning. Thus, severe, rapid hypothermia can occur during drowning in cold water in any geographic location and at temperatures above those necessary for ice formation. Hypothermia provides cerebral protection from hyporia, permitting total recovery with appropriate CPR and intensive care.
KW - Cerebral protection
KW - Cold water drowning
KW - Drowning
KW - Hypothermia
KW - Immersion
KW - Resuscitation
KW - Submersion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=2442549456&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1378/chest.125.5.1948
DO - 10.1378/chest.125.5.1948
M3 - Article
C2 - 15136412
AN - SCOPUS:2442549456
SN - 0012-3692
VL - 125
SP - 1948
EP - 1951
JO - CHEST
JF - CHEST
IS - 5
ER -