Long-Term Survival After Drowning-Related Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes after drowning-related cardiac arrest are not well characterized. OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to estimate long-term survival and identify prognostic factors in a large, population-based cohort of drowning victims with cardiac arrest. METHODS: We conducted a population-based prospective cohort study (1974-1996) of Western Washington Drowning Registry (WWDR) subjects with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and attempted professional resuscitation. The primary outcome was long-term survival through 2012. We tabulated Utstein-style exposure variables, estimated Kaplan-Meier curves, and identified prognostic factors with Cox proportional hazard modeling. RESULTS: Of 2824 WWDR cases, 407 subjects (median age 17 years [interquartile range 3-33 years], 81% were male) were included. Only 54 (13%) were still alive after 1663 person-years of follow-up. Most deaths occurred after termination of initial resuscitation or during initial hospitalization. Risk of subsequent death after hospital discharge was 9.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.7-15.9) per 1000 person-years. Long-term survival differed by Utstein variables (older age, illicit substance use, pre-drowning activity, submersion duration, cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration, intubation, defibrillation, and medications) and inpatient markers of illness severity (vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale, laboratory values, shock). In adjusted analyses, older age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.01; 95% CI 1.01-1.02), epinephrine administration (HR 1.92; 95% CI 1.31-2.80), antiepileptic administration (HR 0.53; 95% CI 0.35-0.81), initial arterial pH (HR 0.49; 95% CI 0.26-0.92), and shock (HR 2.19; 95% CI 1.16-4.15) were associated with higher risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of drowning-related cardiac arrest were fatal, but survivors to hospital discharge had a low risk of subsequent death that was independently associated with older age and clinical evidence of shock.

Acute appendicitis in childhood: oral contrast does not improve CT diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: We compared the diagnostic accuracy of CT performed without and with oral contrast for suspected appendicitis in children. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed abdomen/pelvis CT scans with IV contrast performed between 2011 and 2015 for suspected appendicitis. Oral contrast was used routinely before August 2013 and eliminated from the CT protocol thereafter. Diagnostic accuracy of CT was compared with operative/pathology reports, and included a 30-day follow-up period for non-surgical patients. For a secondary analysis, the oral contrast group was subdivided into "complete" (contrast extending into the cecum) or "partial" contrast. We also compared groups for CT turnaround time, the frequency of appendiceal perforation and abscess, and the potential influence of a prior appendix ultrasound. RESULTS: Five hundred fifty-eight patients were included: 51.6% (n = 288) without oral contrast and 48.4% (n = 270) with oral contrast (of which 52% (n = 140/270) had "complete" contrast). There was no difference in diagnostic accuracy between the oral contrast and non-contrast groups (p = 0.903), with sensitivity/specificity of 93.8% (95% CI 84.8-98.3)/98.5% (CI 95.8-99.7) and 94.6% (CI 84.9-98.9)/98.3% (CI 95.7-99.5), respectively. Similarly, there was no difference in accuracy when comparing only "complete" contrast vs. non-contrast groups (p = 0.755). CT turnaround time for the non-contrast group was significantly faster (43.8 ± 37.6 min), on average, than the oral contrast group (137.4 ± 47.5 min). CONCLUSION: For children evaluated by CT with IV contrast for suspected appendicitis, administering oral contrast increased wait time by > 90 min, did not reach the cecum in 48% of cases, and did not improve diagnostic accuracy. Oral contrast for pediatric CT appendicitis evaluation is not warranted.

Observed long-term mortality after 18,000 person-years among survivors in a large regional drowning registry.

AIM: Long-term outcomes beyond one year after non-fatal drowning are uncharacterized. We estimated long-term mortality and identified prognostic factors in a large, population-based cohort. METHODS: Population-based prospective cohort study (1974-1996) of Western Washington Drowning Registry (WWDR) subjects surviving the index drowning through hospital discharge. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality through 2012. We tabulated Utstein-style exposure variables, estimated Kaplan-Meier curves, and identified prognostic factors with Cox proportional hazard modeling. We also compared 5-, 10-, and 15-year mortality estimates of the primary cohort to age-specific mortality estimates from United States Life Tables. RESULTS: Of 2824 WWDR cases, 776 subjects (5[IQR 2-17] years, 68% male) were included. Only 63 (8%) non-fatal drowning subjects died during 18,331 person-years of follow-up. Long-term mortality differed by Utstein variables (age, precipitating alcohol use, submersion interval, GCS, CPR, intubation, defibrillation, initial vital signs, neurologic status at hospital discharge) and inpatient markers of illness severity (mechanical ventilation, vasopressor use, seizure, pneumothorax). Survival differed by age (HR 1.04;95%CI 1.03-1.05), drowning-related cardiac arrest (HR 3.47;95%CI 1.97-6.13), and neurologic impairment at hospital discharge (HR 5.10;95% CI 2.70-9.62). In adjusted analysis, age (HR 1.05;95%CI 1.03-1.06) and severe neurologic impairment at discharge (HR 2.31;95%CI 1.01-5.28) were associated with long-term mortality. Subjects aged 5-15 years had higher mortality risks than those calculated from Life Tables. CONCLUSION: Most drownings were fatal, but survivors of non-fatal drowning had low risk of subsequent long-term mortality similar to the general population that was independently associated with age and neurologic status at hospital discharge.

Long-term outcomes following pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest*.

OBJECTIVES: Pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is an uncommon event with measurable short-term survival to hospital discharge. For those who survive to hospital discharge, little is known regarding duration of survival. We sought to evaluate the arrest circumstances and long-term survival of pediatric patients who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and survived to hospital discharge. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study SETTING: King County, WA Emergency Medical Service Catchment and Quaternary Care Children's Hospital PATIENTS: Persons less than 19 years old who had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and were discharged alive from the hospital between 1976 and 2007. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the study period, 1,683 persons less than 19 years old were treated for pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the study community, with 91 patients surviving to hospital discharge. Of these 91 survivors, 20 (22%) subsequently died during 1449 person-years of follow-up. Survival following hospital discharge was 92% at 1 year, 86% at 5 years, and 77% at 20 years. Compared to those who subsequently died, long-term survivors were more likely at the time of discharge to be older (mean age, 8 vs 1 yr), had a witnessed arrest (83% vs 56%), presented with a shockable rhythm (40% vs 10%), and had a favorable Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category of 1 or 2 (67% vs 0%). CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based cohort study evaluating the long-term outcome of pediatric survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, we observed that long-term survival was generally favorable. Age, arrest characteristics, and functional status at hospital discharge were associated with prognosis. These findings support efforts to improve pediatric resuscitation, stabilization, and convalescent care.

Toddler with seizures due to ingesting camphor at an Indian celebration.

We report a 3-year-old girl who presented to the emergency department with seizures. Earlier in the evening, the patient was with her parents at an Indian celebration where she vomited once and then became hyperactive. Fifteen minutes later, she became unresponsive and had an episode characterized by eye blinking, teeth grinding, and posturing that lasted 2 to 3 minutes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of seizure after ingestion of ceremonial camphor tablets at an Indian ceremony. Given the inadequate packaging and use of many grams of camphor at these ceremonies, the pediatric population specifically is at risk for camphor toxicity from this source. Health care professionals should be aware of this unique and culturally specific source of potential camphor toxicity.