Mortality rate in pediatric drowning at Burapha University Hospital
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Abstract
Context: One of the main causes of death among children is drowning. Studying the mortalityrelated factors in pediatric drowning incidents is crucial.
Objectives: To determine the significant factors of drowning-related cases and mortalities in children receiving treatment at Burapha University Hospital.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on pediatric patients (under the age of 15) receiving care for drowning or drowning-related events at Burapha University Hospital between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022. Statistics were analyzed using baseline data, drowning-related information, treatments and outcomes.
Results: A total of 49 pediatric patients with a mean age of 5.22 ± 3.10 years were included in this study. The majority of them (85.71%) drowned in seawater and were male (57.14%). The peak drowning period was from 4 to 8 pm (40.82%). October, December and January saw the highest rates of drowning (24.49%, 22.45% and 10.20%, respectively). The median time of submersion was 1 minute [0.5–2], and the median length of disappearance (in cases without witnesses) was 5 minutes [2–30]. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and tracheal intubation were needed for 26.53% and 22.45% of the patients, respectively. For cases in freshwater, the serum sodium level was 134.75 ± 4.03 mEq/L, while in the seawater group it was 144.18 ± 3.01 mEq/L. Of the 49 patients, four drowning deaths occurred (8.16%). Statistically significant factors of the
four deaths included a greater-than-10-minute, unwitnessed disappearance time (p=0.008), a cardiopulmonary resuscitation time longer than 25 minutes (p < 0.001), fixed pupils (p<0.001), a Glasgow Coma scale less than 5 (p < 0.001) as well as the salinity of the body of water (freshwater (p = 0.033) versus seawater).
Conclusions: The disappearance time, length of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, fixed pupils, Glasgow Coma scale, and salinity of the body of water all had an impact on the mortality rate of the drowning victims (8.16%).
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References
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