Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Drowning is a significant cause of death in Nepal, especially in rural areas. Identifying pulmonary edema is important for management of cases of non-fatal drowning, and while radiograph is the standard of care, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) offers a rapid, accessible alternative.

Case Report: A 40-year-old woman presented to the emergency department after non-fatal drowning with respiratory distress and hypoxia. Chest radiograph was unavailable. Point-of-care ultrasound revealed diffuse B-lines consistent with pulmonary edema. She was stabilized and transported to a hospital with intensive care-level management.

Conclusion: Point-of-care ultrasound enabled rapid identification of pulmonary edema and guided timely referral. In resource-limited settings, POCUS is a valuable tool for managing drowning victims when other diagnostics are unavailable.