Citation

Bierens JJLM, Lunetta P, Tipton MJ, Warner DS. Physiology (Bethesda) 2016; 31(2): 147-166.

Affiliation

Departments of Anesthesiology, Neurobiology and Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, International Union of Physiological Sciences, American Physiological Society)

DOI

10.1152/physiol.00002.2015

PMID

26889019

Abstract

Drowning physiology relates to two different events: immersion (upper airway above water) and submersion (upper airway under water). Immersion involves integrated cardiorespiratory responses to skin and deep body temperature, including cold shock, physical incapacitation, and hypovolemia, as precursors of collapse and submersion. The physiology of submersion includes fear of drowning, diving response, autonomic conflict, upper airway reflexes, water aspiration and swallowing, emesis, and electrolyte disorders. Submersion outcome is determined by cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological injury. Knowledge of drowning physiology is scarce. Better understanding may identify methods to improve survival, particularly related to hot-water immersion, cold shock, cold-induced physical incapacitation, and fear of drowning.

Keywords: Drowning; Drowning Prevention; Water Safety

Language: en