AN EMERGENCY CPR SAVES A DROWNING MAN

A 29 year old young man presented in the Emergency of Ruby General Hospital post drowning in Mandarmani, West Bengal. He was rescued immediately and given CPR by a bystander and admitted in nearby hospital where he had been on ventilation. When the gentleman reached Ruby Hospital he was unconscious and on ventilation with abnormally low blood pressure (Hypotensive), and severely hypoxic (deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level). He was admitted under the expert care of Dr. Sourav Dhara(Consultant Critical Care). He was immediately shifted to the ICU and since it was a case of drowning the lungs were filled with water along with cardiac arrest due to hypoxia. He was started on shock management and was kept on sedation for two days as investigations were suggestive of cerebral edema (Brain swelling) which rapidly increases intracranial pressure (ICP) making the patient restless. On the third day he was weaned off ventilation and gradually the blood pressure was stabilized. On extubation the gentleman developed delirium which is common post major trauma and hypoxia and was managed accordingly. Further blood culture revealed Acinetobacter, a group of bacteria causing severe hospital acquired infections for which antibiotics were administered. After gradual recovery he was discharged after almost a week.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) if performed immediately improves the chances of survival for out of hospital medical emergencies and good quality CPR can do miracles.