On 26/3, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Deputy Director of City Children's Hospital, stated that the patient arrived from An Giang in a state of deep coma, seizures, body rigidity, severe hypoxemia, and metabolic acidosis. Imaging revealed aspiration pneumonia and bilateral cerebral edema, leading to a diagnosis of drowning with hypoxic brain injury, six hours after the incident.
Doctors initiated mechanical ventilation, administered anti-cerebral edema and anticonvulsant medications, used antibiotics, and corrected electrolyte imbalances. Due to the child's persistent high fever and rigidity, the treatment team decided to implement targeted temperature management to protect her brain. After many days of intense effort, they were able to save her life.
Previously, the girl was found having fallen into a water barrel at an unknown time. Her family rushed her to a local hospital where she was in cardiac and respiratory arrest with dilated pupils. Doctors at the local facility performed intubation, bag-valve mask ventilation, chest compressions, and administered adrenaline to restore her heartbeat before transferring her to TP HCM.
Dr. Tien emphasized the importance of correct first aid for drowning children. If a child is cyanotic and not breathing, immediate on-site first aid is crucial. This involves chest compressions on the lower half of the sternum and rescue breaths. It is absolutely vital to avoid incorrect methods such as shaking water out, carrying the child while running, rolling them, or performing abdominal thrusts, as these are ineffective and waste the "golden time" critical for saving the child's brain.
Le Phuong
