[Intense therapy in two cases of "near-drowning" (author's transl)]

A short review of the pathophysiological mechanisms in case of 'drowning' or 'near drowning' with or without aspiration of hypo- or hypertonic water is given. In our clinical experience on 22 cases, 17 did not need intensive care and improved without further problems. 3 came dead into the clinic, there being more than 30 min latency between cardiac arrest and the beginning of resuscitation, resuscitation, therefore, being without success. The last 2 cases of 'near-drowning' with fresh water aspiration developed, 100 min and 50 min respectively after the drowning accident, fulminant pulmonary oedema, which could be cured after application of PEEP in Engstroöm-IPPB in one case. In our opinion PEEP should be applied in all cases of intraalveolar pulmonary oedema in the same way as was advised for interstitial pulmonary oedema, if the individual case requires mechanical ventilation at all. The possibility of pulmonary oedema developing, even hours after the accident and primary resuscitation, should be born in mind in all cases of 'near-drowning'.