Restoration of circulation after fresh water drowning

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Baltimore City Hospitals, Baltimore, Maryland

Lightly anesthetized dogs were subjected to obstructive asphyxia, simulating laryngospasm. After respiratory arrest the lungs were flooded with fresh water for 30 sec, according to a standardized experiment. Ten dogs were treated with intermittent positive-pressure artificial respiration with 100% oxygen. Six of the ten dogs suddenly developed ventricular fibrillation less than 2 min after artificial respiration was started. In these animals an artificial circulation was maintained for 20 min by repeated compression of the heart between the sternum and vertebral column. Then, after intravenous administration of hypertonic saline and epinephrine solutions, a 480-v shock was applied to the chest wall. In five of the six dogs there was an immediate resumption of spontaneous circulation. In an additional ten dogs ventricular fibrillation was produced by the same sequence of obstructive asphyxia and flooding of the lungs. In five, treatment was identical except that injection of hypertonic saline was omitted. Circulation was restored in four. In the remaining five, ventilation was performed with air. Restoration of circulation was successful in one.