Pathology of the heart in drowning
Karch, S.B.
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 109(2): 176-178
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9985 PMID: 3838443 Document Number: 263748
Although ventricular fibrillation is a frequent cause of death in nearly drowned animals, the heart itself has never been studied in this condition. Working with a rabbit model, we have simulated the "near drowning" state and found that the heart undergoes some pathologic changes, including myocyte hypercontraction and hypereosinophilia. These changes may well account for the variety of arrhythmic disturbances that have been observed.