Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that CT examinations of the brain in children soon after near-drowning incidents are not helpful in predicting clinical outcome and are not necessary. The clinical and CT findings of 19 pediatric near-drowning victims were reviewed for correlation with clinical and neurologic outcome. As expected, a normal initial CT scan was poorly predictive of outcome, whereas an abnormal CT scan in the initial 36 h following an immersion incident was associated with a dismal prognosis. Three children with abnormal initial CT examinations were identified and all died within 3 days of admission. A CT scan performed in the immediate neardrowning period, therefore, may be helpful in identifying some patients who have sustained severe neurologic injury.
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Romano, C., Brown, T. & Frewen, T.C. Assessment of pediatric near-drowning victims: Is there a role for cranial CT?. Pediatr Radiol 23, 261–263 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010911
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010911