Drowning after falling from a medium-height bridge: multiple trauma victims.
Prehosp Emerg Care
; 16(3): 356-60, 2012.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22494150
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Drowning following a fall from a bridge can lead to cardiac arrest caused by hypoxia, hypothermia, or severe traumatic injury. Every year patients are brought to our hospital who have nearly drowned in the local river after a jump from a bridge (approximate height 16-22 meters). We report traumatic injuries in patients admitted to our hospital for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to drowning.METHODS:
We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients admitted to the intensive care units of our hospital for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to drowning after a jump from a bridge in the Seine River between 2002 and 2010. All clinical or radiologic evidence of trauma was recorded.RESULTS:
A total of 37 patients where admitted to our hospital for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to drowning. Fourteen patients had radiologic examinations. Five of these examinations showed evidence of severe trauma. In one case, clinical examination showed evidence of severe peripheral neurologic trauma. Seven of these patients (19%) were discharged from the hospital alive.CONCLUSIONS:
Patients found nearly drowned in a river spanned by a medium-height bridge should undergo spinal immobilization and complete radiologic examination as soon as possible.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Suicide, Attempted
/
Multiple Trauma
/
Near Drowning
/
Rivers
/
Emergency Medical Services
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Prehosp Emerg Care
Journal subject:
MEDICINA DE EMERGENCIA
Year:
2012
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: