Near Drowning and Wet Drowning - Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to near drowning and wet drowning, including clinical manifestations, anatomic alterations, and management strategies.

Drowning

Suffocation and death as a result of submersion in liquid.

Near drowning

The victim survives a liquid submersion, at least temporarily (24 hours).

Dry drowning

Glottis spasms, no fluid enters lungs.

Wet drowning

Glottis relaxes, fluid floods lungs; can result in non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Anatomic alterations

Changes such as laryngospasm, interstitial edema, decreased surfactant, frothy secretions, atelectasis, consolidation, and bronchospasm.

Favorable prognostic factors

Factors such as age, submersion time, water temperature, water quality, other injuries, amount of struggle, and CPR quality that influence outcomes in cold-water near drowning.

Clinical manifestations

Symptoms including apnea, increased heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, cyanosis, cough, sputum production, pallor, and crackles.

PFT

Pulmonary function tests characterized as restrictive in drowning cases.

ABG

Arterial blood gases demonstrating moderate to advanced stages of wet drowning and indicating acute ventilatory failure with hypoxemia.

CXR

Chest X-ray may show varying degrees of pulmonary edema and atelectasis, with potential deterioration in the first 48 to 72 hours.

Glasgow Coma Scale

Test used to assess a patient's level of consciousness after near drowning.

Management during transport

Involves providing high quality CPR, conserving body heat, and addressing heat loss areas.

Management at hospital

Includes CXR, intubation and mechanical ventilation if necessary, use of inotropic agents, diuretics, and warming the patient.