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Forensic Science, Medicine, and... Dec 2023This study summarized the available evidence on the differences in volume, density, electrolyte concentration, and total proteins in paranasal sinus fluid between...
Differences in volume, density, electrolyte concentration, and total proteins in the fluid of the paranasal sinuses of freshwater and saltwater drowning victims: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This study summarized the available evidence on the differences in volume, density, electrolyte concentration, and total proteins in paranasal sinus fluid between freshwater and saltwater drowning victims. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases and gray literature, resulting in the inclusion of five studies with 234 drowning victims (92 saltwater incidents and 142 freshwater incidents). Meta-analyses using the inverse-of-variance method and a random-effects model were performed, reporting effect sizes as standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The findings showed a significantly higher sinus density in saltwater drowning cases compared to freshwater drowning cases (SMD 0.91, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.32). However, no significant differences were observed in sinus fluid volume. Saltwater drowning victims exhibited higher electrolyte concentrations (sodium: SMD 3.77, 95% CI 3.07 to 4.48; potassium: SMD 0.78, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.49; chloride: SMD 3.48, 95% CI 2.65 to 4.31; magnesium: SMD 4.01, 95% CI 3.00 to 5.03) and lower total protein concentrations (SMD - 1.20, 95% CI - 1.82 to - 0.58) in sinus fluid compared to freshwater drowning victims. This meta-analysis highlights the importance of analyzing the characteristics and composition of sinus fluid in forensic investigations of drowning cases. While no differences were found in sinus fluid volume, saltwater drowning victims exhibited higher sinus density, elevated electrolyte concentrations, and lower total protein concentrations compared to freshwater drowning victims.
PubMed: 38148467
DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00761-9 -
Injury Epidemiology Aug 2023Globally, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death among children. Teaching aquatic competencies (swimming skills and water safety knowledge) to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Globally, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death among children. Teaching aquatic competencies (swimming skills and water safety knowledge) to children has been proposed as a prevention strategy. In Australia, however, many children are not meeting standard aquatic competency benchmarks. Exploration of the connection between demographic and background factors and aquatic competencies could provide insight into why differences in acquisition of aquatic knowledge and skills occur.
MAIN BODY
A systematic literature review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was performed to identify studies that reported on the association between demographic and background factors and aquatic competencies. Nine databases were searched for English language peer-reviewed studies published since 2000. Fourteen studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Studies were quasi-experimental or cross-sectional in design, which is considered quality level III-2 or IV, respectively, on the National Health and Medical Research Council Evidence Hierarchy. Study quality was moderate, and risk of bias was high. While aquatic competencies can be taught, this review found that factors including age, gender, geographic residence, medical conditions/disabilities, socioeconomic status, and swimming frequency were significantly associated with the demonstration and/or acquisition of aquatic competencies.
CONCLUSION
This review provides insight into demographic and background factors that are significantly associated with the development of aquatic competence. Whilst further investigation is required to increase the evidence base, these findings may assist in tailoring swimming and water safety programs to accommodate those at-risk of not achieving age-appropriate aquatic competencies.
PubMed: 37553586
DOI: 10.1186/s40621-023-00447-4 -
International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2023This systematic review identifies and describes the use of the Expert Recommendation for Implementing Change (ERIC) concepts and strategies using public health... (Review)
Review
This systematic review identifies and describes the use of the Expert Recommendation for Implementing Change (ERIC) concepts and strategies using public health approaches to drowning prevention interventions as a case study. International calls for action have identified the need to better understand the implementation of drowning prevention interventions so that intervention design and implementation is improved. In high-income countries (HICs), interventions are sophisticated but still little is known or written about their implementation. The review was registered on PROSPERO (number CRD42022347789) and followed the PRISMA guidelines. Eight databases were searched. Articles were assessed using the Public Health Ontario Meta-tool for quality appraisal of public health evidence. Forty-nine articles were included. Where ERIC strategies were reported, the focus was on evaluative and iterative strategies, developing partnerships and engaging the target group. The review identified few articles that discussed intervention development and implementation sufficiently for strategies to be replicated. Findings will inform further research into the use and measurement of implementation strategies by practitioners and researchers undertaking work in drowning prevention in HICs and supports a call to action for better documentation of implementation in public health interventions.
Topics: Humans; Implementation Science; Developed Countries; Drowning; Databases, Factual; Documentation
PubMed: 38248510
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010045 -
The American Journal of Forensic... Mar 2024In forensic pathology, forensic onychology studies fingernails and toenails for medicolegal purposes. It mainly deals with DNA profiling from nails, toxicological...
In forensic pathology, forensic onychology studies fingernails and toenails for medicolegal purposes. It mainly deals with DNA profiling from nails, toxicological analysis for detecting poisons, and the collection of trace evidence present under the nails. Injuries to fingernails and their interpretation for medicolegal purposes are the neglected areas of this study. We have discussed the most common types of fingernail injuries and their significance. We found that their notification has significant value in drowning cases, defense wounds on the palm, self-inflicted cuts, burns, electrocution, blunt trauma, physical assault, sexual offenses, and other issues like torture. We emphasize the examination of fingernails in the autopsy and medicolegal clinical examination for better administration of law and justice.
PubMed: 38442254
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000930 -
High Altitude Medicine & Biology Dec 2023Lugnet, Viktor, Miles McDonough, Les Gordon, Mercedes Galindez, Nicolas Mena Reyes, Alison Sheets, Ken Zafren, and Peter Paal. Termination of cardiopulmonary... (Review)
Review
Lugnet, Viktor, Miles McDonough, Les Gordon, Mercedes Galindez, Nicolas Mena Reyes, Alison Sheets, Ken Zafren, and Peter Paal. Termination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in mountain rescue: a scoping review and ICAR MedCom 2023 recommendations. . 24:274-286, 2023. In 2012, the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom) published recommendations for termination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in mountain rescue. New developments have necessitated an update. This is the 2023 update for termination of CPR in mountain rescue. For this scoping review, we searched the PubMed and Cochrane libraries, updated the recommendations, and obtained consensus approval within the writing group and the ICAR MedCom. We screened a total of 9,102 articles, of which 120 articles met the inclusion criteria. We developed 17 recommendations graded according to the strength of recommendation and level of evidence. Most of the recommendations from 2012 are still valid. We made minor changes regarding the safety of rescuers and responses to primary or traumatic cardiac arrest. The criteria for termination of CPR remain unchanged. The principal changes include updated recommendations for mechanical chest compression, point of care ultrasound (POCUS), extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for hypothermia, the effects of water temperature in drowning, and the use of burial times in avalanche rescue.
Topics: Emergency Medical Services; Iron-Dextran Complex; Mountaineering; Rescue Work; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
PubMed: 37733297
DOI: 10.1089/ham.2023.0068 -
Journal of the American College of... Aug 2023Non-fatal drownings confer significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. Chest radiograph (CXR) is typically used as a screening modality for interstitial...
OBJECTIVES
Non-fatal drownings confer significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. Chest radiograph (CXR) is typically used as a screening modality for interstitial edema but lacks sensitivity early after submersion. No study has evaluated lung ultrasound in assessing for pulmonary edema after submersion events and we hypothesized that lung point-of-care (POC) ultrasound can identify interstitial edema in patients presenting after non-fatal drownings.
METHODS
Patients presenting to the emergency department after a submersion event were eligible if a CXR was obtained as part of their care. Emergency medicine residents performed a lung POC ultrasound and provided a "novice" interpretation of "normal" or "abnormal," which was independently reviewed by a blinded expert sonographer. Patients were contacted 2 weeks after presentation to assess for late sequela.
RESULTS
A prospective convenience sample of 59 patients included 21 adults (36%) and 38 children (64%) enrolled over 17 months with a median age of 6. Twenty-four (41%) patients had abnormalities on CXR. Of these, 20 patients had a positive ultrasound per novice interpretation. Compared to CXR, ultrasound had an overall sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 66% for detecting pulmonary edema in non-fatal drownings. Notably, out of 35 subjects with a negative CXR, there were 12 (34%) cases with a positive lung ultrasound, 10 of which required hospital admission.
CONCLUSION
Lung POC ultrasound has a moderate sensitivity and specificity when performed by novice sonographers to detect pulmonary edema presenting to an ED setting after a non-fatal drowning event.
PubMed: 37492531
DOI: 10.1002/emp2.13010 -
Nature Sep 2023
Topics: Ecosystem
PubMed: 37648822
DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02595-5 -
Journal of Safety Research Jun 2024In this study, we use the media-based database of Beterem-Safe Kids Israel, to provide a 15-year review of unintentional fatal childhood drowning in Israel, between 2008...
INTRODUCTION
In this study, we use the media-based database of Beterem-Safe Kids Israel, to provide a 15-year review of unintentional fatal childhood drowning in Israel, between 2008 and 2022.
METHOD
It total, we identified 257 cases of child mortality due to drowning during this period.
RESULTS
Our results demonstrate a gradual rise in childhood mortality due to drowning, from 72 cases in 2008-2012, to 85 cases in 2013-2017, and to 100 cases in 2018-2022. Especially worth noting is the increase in childhood drowning in domestic swimming pools. We point to a link between low socioeconomic status and cases of drowning, showing that the risk of drowning extends beyond a mere matter of caregiver inattention. We recommend a series of regulatory and legislative steps to reduce fatal childhood drowning, including fencing built around domestic swimming pools, extending lifeguard activity hours, adding declared beaches, forming programs of safe behavior in water environments for adolescents, and establishing swimming lessons during the 2nd grade, for all populations. We further recommend that a special focus will be put in municipalities situated at the bottom of the socioeconomic index.
Topics: Humans; Drowning; Israel; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Male; Infant; Adolescent; Swimming Pools; Child Mortality
PubMed: 38858046
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2024.02.002 -
Critical Care (London, England) Sep 2023This work provides an epidemiological overview of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in children in Germany between 2007 and 2021. We wanted to identify modifiable...
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in children: an epidemiological study based on the German Resuscitation Registry identifying modifiable factors for return of spontaneous circulation.
AIM
This work provides an epidemiological overview of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in children in Germany between 2007 and 2021. We wanted to identify modifiable factors associated with survival.
METHODS
Data from the German Resuscitation Registry (GRR) were used, and we included patients registered between 1st January 2007 and 31st December 2021. We included children aged between > 7 days and 17 years, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started, and treatment was continued by emergency medical services (EMS). Incidences and descriptive analyses are presented for the overall cohort and each age group. Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed on the whole cohort to determine the influence of (1) CPR with/without ventilation started by bystander, (2) OHCA witnessed status and (3) night-time on the outcome hospital admission with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
RESULTS
OHCA in children aged < 1 year had the highest incidence of the same age group, with 23.42 per 100 000. Overall, hypoxia was the leading presumed cause of OHCA, whereas trauma and drowning accounted for a high proportion in children aged > 1 year. Bystander-witnessed OHCA and bystander CPR rate were highest in children aged 1-4 years, with 43.9% and 62.3%, respectively. In reference to EMS-started CPR, bystander CPR with ventilation were associated with an increased odds ratio for ROSC at hospital admission after adjusting for age, sex, year of OHCA and location of OHCA.
CONCLUSION
This study provides an epidemiological overview of OHCA in children in Germany and identifies bystander CPR with ventilation as one primary factor for survival. Trial registrations German Clinical Trial Register: DRKS00030989, December 28th 2022.
Topics: Humans; Child; Infant, Newborn; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Return of Spontaneous Circulation; Resuscitation; Epidemiologic Studies; Registries
PubMed: 37679812
DOI: 10.1186/s13054-023-04630-3 -
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2024This study investigated serum, vitreous, and anterior chamber fluid electrolyte changes, corneal thickness (CT), corneal volume (CV), anterior chamber volume (ACV), and...
BACKGROUND/AIM
This study investigated serum, vitreous, and anterior chamber fluid electrolyte changes, corneal thickness (CT), corneal volume (CV), anterior chamber volume (ACV), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) as an auxiliary diagnostic method in the identification of drowning in fresh or salt water.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study used 35 healthy, adult, male, white New Zealand rabbits, seperated into five groups (control, saltwater drowning (SWD), saltwater immersion (SWI), freshwater drowning (FWD), freshwater immersion (FWI)). CT, CV, ACV, and ACD measurements were made with Pentacam topography at 0, 2, and 4 h in all groups. Magnesium (mg), sodium (Na), and chlorine (Cl) were measured in the blood at 0 and 2 h, and in blood, vitreous fluid, and humor aqueous at 4 h.
RESULTS
It was determined that CT, CV, ACV, and ACD are not of great value in drowning diagnosis and are affected by the fresh or salt water rather than drowning. Vitreous Na, Cl, and Mg levels are ineffective in determining drowning after one h. Anterior chamber fluid may provide valuable information in the differentiation freshwater - saltwater drownings at the 4th h in corpses retrieved from water.
CONCLUSION
Anterior chamber fluid Na and Cl levels, especially in corpses removed from salt water, can be an easily used test that can help diagnose drowning.
Topics: Animals; Rabbits; Drowning; Male; Fresh Water; Vitreous Body; Anterior Chamber; Sodium; Magnesium; Chlorine; Cornea; Seawater; Aqueous Humor; Immersion
PubMed: 38812651
DOI: 10.55730/1300-0144.5764