Dottorini M, Eslami A, Baglioni S, Fiorenzano G, Todisco T
Pulmonary Unit, R. Silvestrini Hospital, Perugia, Italy.
Chest. 1996 Oct;110(4):1122-4. doi: 10.1378/chest.110.4.1122.
In patients who have experienced near-drowning, hypoxemia is the major clinical consequence. We report two cases of patients who have experienced near-drowning in freshwater who were successfully treated with nasal-continuous positive airway pressure (N-CPAP) plus oxygen therapy. Both patients presented a radiographic appearance of bilateral pulmonary edema. We suggest the use of N-CPAP as an easier and less costly alternative to tracheal intubation for treating near-drowning in patients who are breathing spontaneously and who have not experienced loss of consciousness.
