Drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes (DIPUCs): A narrative review of their diagnoses, evaluation and management
Drowning is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In most circumstances, the proximate cause is attributable to human factors, such as inexperience, fatigue, intoxication, or hazardous water conditions. The phenomenon of drowning incidents precipitated by unusual circumstances (D...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Resuscitation Plus |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666520424002212 |
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| author | Kevin M. Duignan Hannah Luu João H. Delgado Shawn London Richard M. Ratzan |
| author_facet | Kevin M. Duignan Hannah Luu João H. Delgado Shawn London Richard M. Ratzan |
| author_sort | Kevin M. Duignan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drowning is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In most circumstances, the proximate cause is attributable to human factors, such as inexperience, fatigue, intoxication, or hazardous water conditions. The phenomenon of drowning incidents precipitated by unusual circumstances (DIPUCs) – either fatal or nonfatal – involving otherwise healthy individuals under generally safe conditions has not been comprehensively addressed in the medical and drowning literature to date. In this review, we discuss etiologies of DIPUCs, diagnostic clues, suggested workup, suggested postmortem testing, and implications for surviving patients and families. Identifying the cause of a drowning incident can be extremely challenging for the initially treating physician, relying perforce on historical context, environmental clues, physical exam, medical history, eyewitness accounts or video recordings. If no clear explanation for a drowning incident emerges despite a thorough investigation, clinicians should consider some of the less common diagnoses we describe in this paper, and, when appropriate, refer for an autopsy with postmortem molecular genetic testing. While time-consuming, these efforts can prove life-saving for some non-fatal drowning victims and the families of all victims of DIPUCs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-007c9f6f37ac4e918a2e639f3a3a3a0f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-5204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Resuscitation Plus |
| spelling | doaj-art-007c9f6f37ac4e918a2e639f3a3a3a0f2025-08-20T01:57:00ZengElsevierResuscitation Plus2666-52042024-12-012010077010.1016/j.resplu.2024.100770Drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes (DIPUCs): A narrative review of their diagnoses, evaluation and managementKevin M. Duignan0Hannah Luu1João H. Delgado2Shawn London3Richard M. Ratzan4University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine Residency, MC 1930, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030-1930, United StatesUniversity of Connecticut School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine Residency, MC 1930, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030-1930, United StatesHartford Hospital, 80 Seymour St, Hartford, CT 06102, United StatesHartford Hospital, 80 Seymour St, Hartford, CT 06102, United States; Corresponding author.Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour St, Hartford, CT 06102, United StatesDrowning is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In most circumstances, the proximate cause is attributable to human factors, such as inexperience, fatigue, intoxication, or hazardous water conditions. The phenomenon of drowning incidents precipitated by unusual circumstances (DIPUCs) – either fatal or nonfatal – involving otherwise healthy individuals under generally safe conditions has not been comprehensively addressed in the medical and drowning literature to date. In this review, we discuss etiologies of DIPUCs, diagnostic clues, suggested workup, suggested postmortem testing, and implications for surviving patients and families. Identifying the cause of a drowning incident can be extremely challenging for the initially treating physician, relying perforce on historical context, environmental clues, physical exam, medical history, eyewitness accounts or video recordings. If no clear explanation for a drowning incident emerges despite a thorough investigation, clinicians should consider some of the less common diagnoses we describe in this paper, and, when appropriate, refer for an autopsy with postmortem molecular genetic testing. While time-consuming, these efforts can prove life-saving for some non-fatal drowning victims and the families of all victims of DIPUCs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666520424002212DrowningCardiac arrestAccidental deathHealth disparitiesInjury scienceCardiomyopathy |
| spellingShingle | Kevin M. Duignan Hannah Luu João H. Delgado Shawn London Richard M. Ratzan Drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes (DIPUCs): A narrative review of their diagnoses, evaluation and management Resuscitation Plus Drowning Cardiac arrest Accidental death Health disparities Injury science Cardiomyopathy |
| title | Drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes (DIPUCs): A narrative review of their diagnoses, evaluation and management |
| title_full | Drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes (DIPUCs): A narrative review of their diagnoses, evaluation and management |
| title_fullStr | Drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes (DIPUCs): A narrative review of their diagnoses, evaluation and management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes (DIPUCs): A narrative review of their diagnoses, evaluation and management |
| title_short | Drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes (DIPUCs): A narrative review of their diagnoses, evaluation and management |
| title_sort | drowning incidents precipitated by unusual causes dipucs a narrative review of their diagnoses evaluation and management |
| topic | Drowning Cardiac arrest Accidental death Health disparities Injury science Cardiomyopathy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666520424002212 |
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