| Sladen A and Zauder HL, 1971, USA | 10 fresh water near-drownings. | Prospective (?) No corticosteroid versus methylprednisolone (5 mg/kg/24 h iv divided into 6 equal doses). | Survival | All corticosteroid group survived, all others died. | Consecutive groups. Before and after study does not take account of potential change in other aspects of practice with time. Small numbers. |
| Martin CM and Barrett O Jr, 1971, USA | 64 cases near-drowning, 29 cases drowning. | Retrospective analysis. Unspecified corticosteroid treatment. | Descriptive analysis | 9 cases received corticosteroids - no benefit shown. | Retrospective. No standard treatment. Not a controlled trial. |
| Moddell JH et al, 1976, USA | 91 near-drownings (salt, fresh, brackish). | Retrospective analysis of charts. | Survival | 52 given corticosteroids - 8 died. | Retrospective |
| | | | 38 no corticosteroids - 2 died | Different corticosteroids, different doses. |
| (1–79 years). | | | | Not a controlled trial |
| Corbin DO and Fraser HS, 1981, Barbados | 98 near-drownings. | Retrospective analysis of charts. | No outcome measure as all were survivors | 66 received unspecified corticosteroids. | Retrospective. Not a controlled trial No deaths. Therefore a comparison of death rates impossible. |
| Oakes DD et al, 1982, USA | 40 near-drownings. | Retrospective analysis of charts. | Survival | 30 dexamethasone ? number died | Retrospective. Not controlled trial. Variable doses, ? data. |
| van Berkel M et al, 1996, Netherlands | 125 submersion victims. | Retrospective analysis of charts. Prednisolone (10.6 mg/kg, then 2.5 mg/kg/day; 1.8 d) | Pneumonia | Corticosteroids: no effect on pneumonia. | Retrospective. Not controlled trial. No survival data |