Management of Near Drowning Patients: A Review of Literature

According to WHO estimates, nearly 400,000 incidents of sea drowning take place each year. Drowning remains a significant worldwide public health concern, ranking as the third leading cause of unintentional injury death and accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. It is a major cause of disability and death, particularly in children. At least one third of survivors sustain moderate-to-severe neurologic sequela.Methods & Materials: Academic databases (e.g. Cochrane, Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, SID and Iran doc) were searched. Findings from 12 cross-sectional, case-report, and meta-analysis studies, until 2016, have been taken into account in this review.Results: Aggressive pulmonary support has proven to be essential to optimizing the victim’s chances for a favorable outcome. Not many cases documenting the use of bronchoscopy in sea drowning are found in literature; only a few case reports have been published, frequently involving children. Mechanical pulmonary measurements improved after BAL, and Fio2 requirements were reduced.Discussion & Conclusion: Medical care providers are a vital resource for enhancing public awareness of the importance of these measures. The literature supports the concept that education in the emergency department with regard to drowning prevention can have a positive impact on patient and family awareness of steps to lessen the likelihood of catastrophic drowning or submersion injury. Simple preventative measures and educational efforts can be effective in preventing a major cause of morbidity and mortality in often young and healthy members of society