asphyxia

ASPHYXIA

•SUBMITTED BY:

•AMANPREET KAUR•MSC II•FORENSIC SCI•3931

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CONTENTS* DEFINITION

* ANOXIA* SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ASPHYXIA

* CLASSIFICATION OF ASPHYXIA* SUFFOCATION

* HANGING* STRANGULATION

* DROWNING

* REFERENCES 2

ASPHYXIADefective aeration of blood due to any cause is known as ASPHYXIA. It is

simply a condition in which body tissues are deprived from oxygen

completely or partially.

The true terms for asphyxia is ANOXIA or HYPOXIA.

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ANOXIA ANOXIA is of three types:

* ANOXIC ANOXIA

* ANAEMIC ANOXIA

* STAGNANT ANOXIA

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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS1. CONGESTION

2. OEDEMA

3. CYANOSIS

4. PETECHIAE

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PETHECHIAE IN EYES6

CYANOSIS

CLASSIFICATION OF ASPHYXIA

1. MECHANICAL:

* Suffocation

* Hanging

* Strangulation

* Drowning

2. CHEMICAL

3. SEXUAL

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SUFFOCATION“To die as a result of not being able to

breath.” It may be due to two reasons:

* DUE TO LACK OF OXYGEN IN ATMOSPHERE

* DUE TO OBSTRUCTION OF AIR PASSAGES

1. SMOTHERING

2. CHOKING

3. TRAUMATIC ASPHYXIA

4. GAGGING8

GAGGING SMOTHERING

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CHOKING10

WHETHER IT IS HOMICIDAL, SUICIDAL OR ACCIDENTAL

* Suffocation may be ACCIDENTAL like in case of CO poisoning and in case of choking of respiratory tract internally by

food bolus .

*HOMICIDAL cases are common like GAGGING is used by the thieves to prevent the victim from shouting.

* SUICIDAL cases are less frequent . But in some western countries people use coal

gas for committing suicide. 11

HANGINGForm of death produced by suspending the body with a ligature round the neck and here, the constricting force is weight of the body. Commonly used ligatures are rope, turban, dhoti, saree , belt, or that is available

at the scene . 12

TYPES OF HANGING * On the basis of KNOT

1. TYPICAL

2. ATYPICAL

* On the basis of SUSPENSION

1. COMPLETE

2. PARTIAL OR INCOMPLETE

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COMPLETE HANGING14

PARTIAL HANGING15

CAUSE OF DEATH IN HANGING 1. Injury to spinal cord

2. Sudden stoppage of heartbeat due to vaso vagal inhibition.

3. Occlusion of the airways.

4. Occlusion of jugular system.

5. Occlusion of carotid arteries.

6. Fracture or dislocation of cervical vertebrae.

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Postmortem features in cases of death due to HANGING

* LIGATURE MARKS ON THE NECK

* DRIED DRIBBLES OF SALIAVA AT

ANGLE OF MOUTH

* HYOID BONE FRACTURE

* SWOLLEN FACE WITH PROTRUDED EYES AND TOUNGE

*PASSAGE OF URINE, FAECES OR SEMINAL STAINS

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HANGING1. WITH LIGATURE 2. AFTER

REMOVAL OF LIGATURE

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Others forms of HANGING * JUDICIAL HANGING

* LYNCHING

* ACCIDENTAL HANGING

* SEXUAL ASPHYXIA (AUTOEROTIC

HANGING(

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* Hanging is mostly of suicidal in nature.

* Cases of homicidal hanging are less frequently found. Because it is impossible to control a person while he is alive. In case of homicidal hanging we find traces of drugs, injury on the body which is firstly used to incapacitate the person.

* Accidental hanging cases are also frequent

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STRANGULATIONSTRANGULATION is a violent form of death, which results from constricting the neck by means of a ligature or any other means without suspending the body.

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TYPES OF STRANGULATION1. THROTTLING: when constriction is produced by

the pressure of the fingers and the palms.

2. GARROTING: loop of thin string thrown from back and tightened.

3. BANSDOLA: neck compressed between two bamboo sticks.

4. MUGGING: pressure upon neck by arm around

the throat.

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LIGATURE STRANGULATION* The pressure upon the neck may be

effected by compressing whole or a part of the circumference of neck by a ligature .

CAUSE OF DEATH*VAGAL INHIBITION

* VENOUS CONSTRICTION

* RESPIRATORY OBSTRUCTION

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GAROTTING THROTTLING

GENERAL FINDINGS

*Face is swollen and blotchy.* Eyes usually suffused and bulging.

*Tongue is swollen, protruding and caught between teeth.

* Ligature mark which commonly depends upon the size, type, form, etc. of the ligature. The

thinner the ligature more deep will be the mark.

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INTERNAL FINDINGS* Bruising of the soft tissue of neck and

muscles specially underneath the ligature mark.

* Injuries to blood vessels are rare in this.

* Injuries to hyoid bone are not commonly seen.

* Thyroid cartilages are found fractured.

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MANUAL STRANGUALTION(THROTTLING(

* Catching or grasping of neck at the location of carotid sinus, by the hand.

* This cause sudden CARDIAC ARESST due to vaso vagal inhibition.

** THE DEATH IS SUDDEN IN THIS CASE.

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GENERAL FINDINGS* CUTANEOUS ABRASIONS

* CUTANEOUS BRUISING

* BRUISING INTO LARGE STRUCTURES OF NECK

* INJURIES TO HYOID BONE AND LARYNX

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* SUICIDAL: It is possible to strangle oneself

by ligature.

* ACCIDENTAL: In case of infants at time of birth. Children may strangled while playing. While working near a machine one can strangled.

* HOMICIDAL: Quite common form of murder.

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DROWNING* It is a form of death in which the

atmospheric air is prevented from entering the lung by submersion of body in water or any other liquid completely or partially.

* The main cause of death is VASO VAGAL INHIBITION resulting in sudden cardiac

arrest and ASPHYXIA.

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TYPES OF DROWNING1. WET DROWNING

* In salt water

* In fresh water

2. DRY DROWNING

3. SECONDARY DROWNING

4. COLD WATER DROWNING

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* SUICIDAL : Most commonly used by Indian females. Sometimes the person committing suicide tie his/her hand before jumping. In these types of cases position of knot plays an important role.

* HOMICIDAL : It is rare except in cases of children, infants and person under the effect of any drug.

* ACCIDENTAL : very common.32

REFERENCES* Modi, J.K. (1993) : Medical jurisprudence and toxicology,

N.M. Tripathi Pvt. Ltd.

* Krishan Vij (2001) : Textbook of Forensic Medicine, B.I. Churchill Livingstone Pvt. Ltd.

* H.W.V Cox (1998) : Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, L.R. Bagga Pvt. Ltd.

* C.K. Parikh (1990) : Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and

Toxicology, CBS Publishers.

*www.en.wikepedia.org/wiki/drowning

* www.sonictr.deviant art.com/art/solid-snake-smothering33

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asphyxia