Drowning and Near drowning in Children: A Retrospective Study Surveying Short-term andLong-term Results of Treatment of Pediatric Patients Admitted to Pediatric Intensive CareUnit, Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, UH Motol, Prague , in 1991 -2002 Period

Overview

Authors of this retrospective study have surveyed short-term and long-term results of the treatment afterdrowning and near drowning in pediatric patients admitted to PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), Dept. ofAnaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague in 1991 - 2002 period. Frequencyand extent of undercooling, length of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), incidence of acquired respiratorydisstress syndrome, and multi-organ failure syndrome were followed along with monitoring of intracranialpressure, arterial pressure and other parameters.In the second part of this paper authors have observed development of neurological status, type of nutrition/typeof feeding, self-service, and possibility to attend any kind of school in patients who survived and were dischargedto other department in UH Motol. There were 107 patients after drowning or near drowning inserted into thisgroup. Eighty three (78%) of them survived the drowning accident, girls in 93% and boys in 71% of all cases. Fromresults of this study the authors conclude that the length of CPR is not favourable prognostic indicator andundercooling has a protective character to the brain and other organs only under special circumstances. Thus,thoroughgoing prevention remains the only effective means in the fight against drowning and near drowning inchildren and adolescents.

Key words:
drowning, near drowning, undercooling, adolescents, pediatric patients, results of treatment