Effects of Volume of Aspirated Fluid During Chlorinated Fresh Water Drowning

Abstract

Cardiovascular and biochemical changes were studied in the dog following aspiration of 1 ml to 35 ml of chlori-nated distilled water/lb. body weight. Survival rate was inversely proportional to the quantity of fluid aspirated. Ventricular fibrillation was common in animals who aspirated at least 20 ml of water/lb. but not observed with 10ml or less/lb. Three min. following aspiration, the degree of change in blood volume, plasma hemoglobin, serum Na, Cl, Ca, and K were dependent upon the quantity of water aspirated. Within 1 hr. postaspiration, however, serum electrolytes returned to normal in surviving animals. Asphyxia was present acutely as evidenced by an increase in PaCO2 [arterial CO2 tension] and decrease in pH, PaO2, and base excess. The latter changes were not as transient as changes in the electrolytes, and significant hypoxemia was still present at the conclusion of the experiment in all but one animal.