Authors of this retrospective study have surveyed short-term and long-term results of the treatment after drowning and near drowning in pediatric patients admitted to PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), Dept. of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague in 1991 - 2002 period. Frequency and extent of undercooling, length of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), incidence of acquired respiratory disstress syndrome, and multi-organ failure syndrome were followed along with monitoring of intracranial pressure, arterial pressure and other parameters. In the second part of this paper authors have observed development of neurological status, type of nutrition/type of feeding, self-service, and possibility to attend any kind of school in patients who survived and were discharged to other department in UH Motol. There were 107 patients after drowning or near drowning inserted into this group. Eighty three (78%) of them survived the drowning accident, girls in 93% and boys in 71% of all cases. From results of this study the authors conclude that the length of CPR is not favourable prognostic indicator and undercooling has a protective character to the brain and other organs only under special circumstances. Thus, thoroughgoing prevention remains the only effective means in the fight against drowning and near drowning in children and adolescents.

        Key words: drowning, near drowning, undercooling, adolescents, pediatric patients, results of treatment