Submersion and acute respiratory failure

Abstract

Objective: To know the relationship between hypothermia, etiology, respiratory failure and prognosis of submersion in environmental emergency medicine. Methods: From December 1, 2002 to September 30, 2007, there were 52 hospitalized near- drowning cases in a medical center at northern Taiwan. Retrospective study of 52 submersion patients who were hospitalized during the duration was analyzed. Results: The hypothermic groups are more commonly seen in acute respiratory failure after submersion, 36% vs . 21%, P<0.05. The hypothermic submersion patients who are older in age than normothermic submersion patients (44 vs. 27 years old, P<0.05). The suicidal submersion patients are older, hypothermic and longer length of stay than accidental submersion patients. Conclusions: Submersion patients who are hypothermic on arrival of emergency department (ED) are risky to respiratory failure and older, more hypothermic, longer hospital stay in suicidal submersion patients.

Keywords

• Submersion
• Suicide attempt
• Hospital stay
• Acute respiratory failure