Asphyxia Dr S Rossouw 2013 Definition Asphyxia occlusion
- Slides: 10
Asphyxia Dr S Rossouw 2013
Definition • Asphyxia = occlusion of airways
The Various Entities • Suffocating/Smothering • Decr oxygen • External Mechanical Occlusion • Choking: • Occlusion of internal airways • Strangulation: • Instrumental • Manual (Throttling) • Hanging: • Body mass
Related entities • Bolus death: • Laryngopharynx • Reflex cardiac arrest • Aspiration (v. Choking) • Gastric contents, meconium • Foreign material • Gassing (v. smothering) • NB: CO, cyanide • < O 2 >CO 2 • Traumatic asphyxia: • Fixation of thorax
Autopsy findings • • Blood-free field dissection of neck Petechial haemorrhages Subconjunctival congestion Lung signs: • • • Signs of injury to the neck surface Injury of deeper neck structures (including vascular and laryngeal) Vertebral / spinal cord injury General congestion Other injuries (thorax) • • Congestion Peri-arterial haemorrhages Interstitial haemorrhages Oedema
Mechanism of death: • Acute neurogenic cardiac arrest • Cerebral anoxia • General hypoxia/anoxia
Immersion/Drowning • True drowning • Other causes of death
Immersion/Drowning • Washerwoman • Froth • PM trauma
Mechanism of death • Volume disturbances • Electrolyte disturbance
Photos • Smothering • Gagging • Traumatic asphyxia • Hanging • Choking • Strangulation • Drowning • Internal signs
