Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital saved the lives of 2 children who had cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest due to drowning.

On August 3, the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department of Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital received a case of CAD patient (13 years old), residing in Dien Chau district, who drowned in a very critical condition, with a very high risk of death.

According to the patient's family: CAD drowned in a pond. When discovered and rescued, he was cyanotic, had stopped breathing, and had a heart attack. CAD received first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and was taken to the district hospital for endotracheal intubation.

The CAD patient was then transferred to Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital in a coma, with a balloon pumped through the endotracheal tube, a lot of pink foam coming out of the tube, weak peripheral pulse, weak light reflex in both pupils... Doctors determined: The patient's condition was very serious, due to the unknown time of submersion in water and the long time of circulatory arrest after drowning, the chance of survival and recovery was very low.

Previously, on July 19, a 28-month-old TTK patient in Thanh Chuong district was also admitted to the emergency room in critical condition, in a coma after cardiac arrest due to drowning. Fortunately, the child received proper first aid thanks to meeting a doctor on the way from home to the district hospital.

"The circulatory arrest of the two patients due to drowning caused a lack of blood in the organs due to the heart losing its contractile function, causing cell dysfunction, necrosis and programmed cell death, especially of brain cells. Brain damage after cardiac arrest is often irreversible and leaves severe sequelae or even death.

Doctors and families agreed to apply intensive resuscitation interventions for these two children, especially the command hypothermia technique. Hypothermia will significantly prevent body damage, thereby helping patients have more chances of survival and limiting complications," said Master, Doctor Bui Thi Huong - Department of Intensive Care and Anti-Poisoning.

After 72 hours of close monitoring and controlled hypothermia, the children were taken off sedation to assess their consciousness. The very positive thing was that the children's consciousness improved, and they had good reflexes. Both children were taken off the ventilator and recovered well, and were discharged home.

Master, Doctor Bui Thi Huong recommends: For patients with cardiac arrest, first aid is very important. In case of a drowning accident, it is necessary to quickly bring the victim to shore and perform first aid steps on the spot according to the correct method. If the drowning victim is found unconscious, not breathing, or has cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (chest compression, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) is required immediately. After that, the patient must be quickly taken to a qualified medical facility for further treatment./.