ABSTRACT

Near-drowning continues to be associated with high mortality and morbidity in both children and adults. With the availability of sophisticated technologies and pediatric intensive care units, victims of near-drowning are now more likely to survive. However this improvement in short-term survival of near-drowning, victims after an acute submersion episode has also resulted in an increase of acute respiratory distress syndrome and persistent hypoxic-ischemic central nervous system injury. Therefore, it is important both to know the acute intensive care unit management of victims of near-drowning and also to understand the progression of the disease. We report a patient who had been near-drowned in bucket filled with sodium hypochlorite and detergent containing water.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypoxic-ischemic central nervous system injury, near-drowning, sodium hypochlorite