• S Crowe, D Mannion, M Healy, B O'Hare, and B Lyons.
• Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland. suzbar@gofree.indigo.ie
• Ir Med J. 2003 Oct 1;96(9):274-6.

AbstractThe decision whether to continue to resuscitate the paediatric victim of near-drowning is influenced by potential poor neurological outcome. A low core body temperature at presentation is frequently cited as a reason to continue resuscitation. We report the case of an 11 month old infant admitted to the intensive care unit following near-drowning and a prolonged resuscitation. The infant's core body temperature was 29 degrees C. Cardiac output was restored, but the child remains in a persistent vegetative state. We present the results of a ten year review of near-drowning in a tertiary referral institution, to evaluate the mortality and outcome in a temperate climate. Thirteen patients were identified in the review. The mortality was 23%. The incidence of a persistent vegetative state was 15%. Asystole, immersion time greater than 15 minutes, resuscitation time longer than 30 minutes, the administration of epinephrine, and a low core body temperature were associated with a poor outcome.

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