Drowning: a review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment and prevention.

Department of Intensive Care, Erasme University Hospital, Route de Lennik, 808, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.

Although often preventable, drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death, especially in children. New definitions classify drowning as the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in a liquid. The key pathophysiological feature in drowning is hypoxia. Accurate neurological prognosis cannot be predicted from the initial clinical presentation, laboratory, radiological, or electrophysiological examinations. Prompt and aggressive resuscitation attempts are crucial for optimal survival. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention of drowning.

PMID: 15582760 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]