Predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims: A comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency department

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify risk factors linked to mortality, intensive care unit admission, and poor neurological outcomes among drowning victims and to find markers for safe discharge from the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated all...

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Main Authors: Süleyman Gökhan Kara, Başak Bayram, Şebnem Şakar Halaç, Osman Sönmez, Neşe Çolak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-07-01
Series:Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/tjem.tjem_248_24
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author Süleyman Gökhan Kara
Başak Bayram
Şebnem Şakar Halaç
Osman Sönmez
Neşe Çolak
author_facet Süleyman Gökhan Kara
Başak Bayram
Şebnem Şakar Halaç
Osman Sönmez
Neşe Çolak
author_sort Süleyman Gökhan Kara
collection DOAJ
description OBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify risk factors linked to mortality, intensive care unit admission, and poor neurological outcomes among drowning victims and to find markers for safe discharge from the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated all drowning victims presenting to both adult and pediatric EDs at a single center over an 11-year period. Variables such as arrival time at ED, age, type of water, comorbid diseases, vital signs, treatments given, and prehospital interventions were assessed. RESULTS: The study found that early basic life support (BLS) by bystanders significantly improves survival and neurological outcomes. Respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were identified as independent risk factors for poor clinical outcomes. While the Szpilman clinical score is useful, it alone is not sufficient for predicting poor clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: For optimal management of drowning victims, immediate BLS is crucial. In the ED, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and GCS should be closely monitored. Drowning victims with a GCS of 15, normal respiratory rate, normal oxygen saturation, and Szpilman score below 3 can be safely discharged from the ED.
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issn 2452-2473
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
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series Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine
spelling doaj-art-f87e8bccaf2c4d4f936d2fa8adef1ced2025-07-04T10:42:07ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsTurkish Journal of Emergency Medicine2452-24732025-07-0125320821510.4103/tjem.tjem_248_24Predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims: A comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency departmentSüleyman Gökhan KaraBaşak BayramŞebnem Şakar HalaçOsman SönmezNeşe ÇolakOBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify risk factors linked to mortality, intensive care unit admission, and poor neurological outcomes among drowning victims and to find markers for safe discharge from the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated all drowning victims presenting to both adult and pediatric EDs at a single center over an 11-year period. Variables such as arrival time at ED, age, type of water, comorbid diseases, vital signs, treatments given, and prehospital interventions were assessed. RESULTS: The study found that early basic life support (BLS) by bystanders significantly improves survival and neurological outcomes. Respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were identified as independent risk factors for poor clinical outcomes. While the Szpilman clinical score is useful, it alone is not sufficient for predicting poor clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: For optimal management of drowning victims, immediate BLS is crucial. In the ED, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and GCS should be closely monitored. Drowning victims with a GCS of 15, normal respiratory rate, normal oxygen saturation, and Szpilman score below 3 can be safely discharged from the ED.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/tjem.tjem_248_24drowningemergency medicineglasgow coma scaleneurological outcomesresuscitation
spellingShingle Süleyman Gökhan Kara
Başak Bayram
Şebnem Şakar Halaç
Osman Sönmez
Neşe Çolak
Predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims: A comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency department
Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine
drowning
emergency medicine
glasgow coma scale
neurological outcomes
resuscitation
title Predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims: A comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency department
title_full Predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims: A comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency department
title_fullStr Predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims: A comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency department
title_full_unstemmed Predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims: A comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency department
title_short Predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims: A comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency department
title_sort predicting mortality and safe discharge in drowning victims a comprehensive analysis of neurological and clinical outcomes in the emergency department
topic drowning
emergency medicine
glasgow coma scale
neurological outcomes
resuscitation
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/tjem.tjem_248_24
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