Emergency Medicine: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-7548
ISSN: 2165-7548
Mirjam Kolev
Inselspital, University Hospital Bern,
Freiburgstrasse, Bern
Switzerland
Research Article
Retrospective Analysis of Drowning Incidents at a University Hospital in Switzerland
Author(s): Mirjam Kolev, Corinne Meister, Meret E Ricklin and Aristomenis K ExadaktylosMirjam Kolev, Corinne Meister, Meret E Ricklin and Aristomenis K Exadaktylos
Background: The annual rate of accidental fatal drowning in Switzerland is about 50 deaths/year (0.6/100 000). We report on the fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents among adults that were treated at the University Hospital in Bern, Switzerland, between 2000 and 2014. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the electronic database of the emergency centre for adults of the university hospital in Bern. Between 2000 and 2014 all fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents were analysed using specific medical keywords. Results: 126 patients were included. Ninety-one (72%) were male, 94 (76%) aged between 16-44 years, 107 (89%) of the incidents occurred in rivers. In 83 (68%) cases the activity during the incident was swimming. Twentytwo (18%) were non-accidental drowning incidents, 14 (11%) of all the drowning patients needed reanimation and 6 (4.8%) died within 24 h. Conclusion: Our analysis s.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2165-7548.1000345