Acute renal failure following near drowning in salt water

Two young men swallowed and inhaled salt water, suffered cold exposure and an undertermined degree of body trauma, in separate incidents. Severe acute oliguric renal failure followed in both, requiring dialytic therapy. Single needle subclavian intermittent haemodialysis allowed ambulatory outpatient management. The risk of acute renal failure following even brief sea water immersion is emphasised and the value of ambulant subclavian haemodialysis in the management of acute renal failure illustrated.