Factors Associated With Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Pediatric Drowning Patients Admitted to Intensive Care: A 14-Year Retrospective Study

Drowning is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children, primarily due to respiratory and neurological injury. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and outcome characteristics of pediatric drowning and identify factors associated with invasive mechanical ventilation. We conducted a 14-year retrospective descriptive and analytical study including all children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit for drowning. Thirty-one patients were included, with a median age of 30 months, and 61% were male. The median immersion time was 5 minutes, and 13% of children were submerged for more than 10 minutes. Respiratory distress occurred in 71% of cases, while 41.9% required invasive mechanical ventilation. Prolonged immersion, SpO₂ <90%, respiratory distress, neurological impairment, advanced clinical stage, and biological abnormalities were associated with mechanical ventilation. Mortality was 9.7% and was higher among ventilated patients. Early recognition and appropriate respiratory support may improve outcomes.