Citation

Veenhuizen L, Haasnoot K, van Vught AJ, Bierens JJLM, Thunnissen BT, Gemke RJ. Ned. Tijdschr. Geneeskd. 1994; 138(18): 906-910.

Vernacular Title

Submersie bij kinderen; rol van hypothermie en ontstaan van 'adult respiratory distress'-syndroom.

Affiliation

Afd. Intensive Care Chirurgie, Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, Utrecht.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Erven Bohn)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8196776

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and of hypothermia as a predictor of outcome in cases of submersion injury in children.

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. PATIENTS: All drowning cases admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital in Utrecht between January 1986 and January 1993.

RESULTS: There were 45 patients, 29 boys and 16 girls, aged 0-13 years. Hypothermia was related to the duration of submersion and did not correlate with a good outcome. Asystole on arrival at the hospital was associated with demise in all but one patient, who was left with severe neurological impairment. ARDS occurred in 27/45 patients (60%), all within 6 h following admission. Of the 45 patients treated, 11 died. Of the 34 survivors, 7 were discharged from the Intensive Care Unit with neurological sequelae (2 with mild, 5 with serious sequelae).

CONCLUSION: In our patients with drowning accidents, hypothermia did not appear to provide any protective effect. ARDS, if it occurred, became evident within 6 h after admission.

Language: nl