in case of fresh water drowning…hyperkalemia is understood…but in medicine we were taught hyperkalemia cause diastolic arrest as excess ECF K+ inhibit the efflux of pottasium during repolarization and hence heart got arrested in diastole…but you taught V fib…what to answer if both option given in question??cause of death?
In cases of fresh water drowning, the mechanism of death is often related to the dilution of electrolytes, including a decrease in serum sodium levels (hyponatremia) and a relative increase in serum potassium levels (hyperkalemia). However, the specific cause of death can vary and may involve different factors.
As you mentioned, one potential mechanism is the effect of hyperkalemia on cardiac function. Elevated extracellular potassium levels can disrupt the normal electrical conduction in the heart, leading to arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation (Vfib) or asystole.
However, it’s important to note that the exact cause of death in a drowning incident can be multifactorial and may involve a combination of factors, including aspiration of water into the lungs, hypoxia, and cardiac dysfunction. Other factors, such as complications from pulmonary edema or respiratory failure, can also contribute to the final outcome.
In the context of a multiple-choice question where both Vfib and diastolic arrest are given as options for the cause of death in fresh water drowning, it would be important to consider the specific details of the case and choose the most likely and appropriate answer based on the information provided. This could involve considering the overall pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and known complications associated with fresh water drowning.