Spleen findings in drowning

A retrospective study of spleen findings in 42 victims of drowning
and a comparison group of 42 cases of asphyxiation due to other
causes (hanging, ligature strangulation and manual strangulation),
that were matched for sex, age, body weight and build, was
performed. Significantly smaller spleen weights (P < 0.05),
spleen weight:body weight ratios (P < 0.01) and spleen
weight:liver weight ratios (P < 0.01) were found in the victims
of drowning. The difference in weight was 18%. A significant
negative correlation between spleen weight and blood alcohol
concentration was found in the study group (r = −0.44; P <
0.01), but not in the control group. The possibility that the
findings are due to a stress reaction caused by hypoxia in the
presence of cooling and an influence of alcohol on reflex
mechanisms is discussed.