2. Asphyxia
Is a term derived from Greek
that literally translates as
"stopping of the pulse."
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3. Asphyxia
This term refers to a multi-etiologic set of conditions in which
there is inadequate delivery, uptake and/or utilization of
oxygen by the body’s tissues/cells, often accompanied by
carbon dioxide retention.
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4. Asphyxia
Although many natural disease processes may involve
inadequate uptake and/or delivery of oxygen (eg, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]), the term "asphyxia"
is generally reserved for conditions related to abnormal
atmosphere and mechanical and chemical effects directly
leading to the aforementioned abnormalities.
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6. 1. Mechanical Asphyxia
Smothering
Smothering is a form of asphyxia caused by mechanical occlusion of external air
passages, which include the nose or mouth by hand, cloth, plastic bag or any other
material.
Choking
Choking is a form of asphyxia caused by mechanical occlusion of the lumina of the air
passages by a solid object. (Café coronary)
Throttling
Throttling is the manual strangulation
Strangulation
By hands (throttling)
By ligature
By hanging
• General Causes of Hypoxia
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9. 2.PositionalAsphyxia
Positional asphyxia occurs when the position of a person’s
body interferes with respiration, resulting in death from
asphyxia or suffocation.
At death, the victim must be found in a position that interferes
with pulmonary gas exchange (breathing). Such a position may
range from one that causes obstruction of the mouth and
nares, to one that causes restriction of the chest and
diaphragm.
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10. 3.RestraintAsphyxia
Mugging/’Arm lock’ (Carotid sleeper or Bar arm)
When strangulation is affected by compressing victim’s neck
against the forearm, it is known as mugging (choke-hold). It
may leave no external or internal mark of injury.
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11. 4.SexualAsphyxiaorautoeroticasphyxia
Autoerotic asphyxiation is one of the few sexual practices that
remain hush-hush, mainly because forensic scientists and
psychologists won't talk about it outside their professional
circles. They're afraid of giving kids ideas.
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14. Ligaturestrangulation
Ligature strangulation (also known as "garroting") is strangling
with some form of cord such as rope, wire, or shoe laces, either
partially or fully circumferencing the neck.Even though the
mechanism of strangulation is similar, it is usually distinguished
from hanging by the strangling force being something other than
the person's own bodyweight . Incomplete occlusion of
the carotid arteries is expected and, in cases of homicide, the
victim may struggle for a period of time, with unconsciousness
typically occurring in 10 to 15 seconds . Cases of ligature
strangulation generally involve homicides of women, children,
and the elderly, but accidents and suicides occur as well.
Compared to hanging, the ligature mark will most likely be
located lower on the neck of the victim.
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17. Strangling
• Strangling involves one or several mechanisms that interfere
with the normal flow of oxygen into the brain.
• Compression of the carotid arteries or jugular veins—
causing cerebral ischemia.
• Compression of the laryngopharynx, larynx, or trachea—
causing asphyxia.
• Stimulation of the carotid sinus reflex—
causing bradycardia, hypotension, or both.
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18. Case 1
‘A case of suicidal ligature
strangulation by using a tourniquet
methods’ .
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19. Ligature strangulations are usually homicidal. Accidental and
suicidal ligature strangulations are quite rare. In this study, an
unusual case of suicidal ligature strangulation with a tourniquet
method using a walking stick is presented. A 70-year-old-man
was found dead in his room, a piece of cloth wrapped around
the neck, knotted, and tightened by a walking stick. His hand
was still on the walking stick which was seemingly used by him
for a tourniquet effect. Autopsy showed bilateral
sternocleidomastoid muscle hemorrhage. A thorough death
scene investigation, detailed corpse examination, and autopsy
are extremely important for determining the manner of death in
such ligature strangulation cases.
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20. Case 2
‘Homicide or suicide by strangulati
on--case report’.
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21. Case 2
An 81-year-old woman was found in her home lying across the
couch with a bathrobe belt tied around her neck and a knot at
the back side. Body examination showed congestion of the face,
conjunctival petechiae as well as a ligature mark in the middle of
the neck. The internal examination revealed hematomas on the
left side of the tongue, on its base and in the neck muscles on
the left side.
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22. Disscusion
Depending on the particular method of strangulation, one or several
of these typically occur in combination; vascular obstruction is
usually the main mechanism. Complete obstruction of blood flow to
the brain is associated with irreversible neurological damage and
death , but during strangulation there is still unimpeded blood flow in
the vertebral arteries. Estimates have been made that significant
occlusion of the carotid arteries and jugular veins occurs with a
pressure of around 3. 4 N/cm², while the trachea demands six times
more at approximately 22 N/cm². As in all cases of strangulation,
the rapidity of death can be affected by the susceptibility to carotid
sinus stimulation. Carotid sinus reflex death is sometimes considered
a mechanism of death in cases of strangulation, but it remains highly
disputed. The reported time from application to unconsciousness
varies from 7–14 seconds if effectively applied to one minute in other
cases, with death occurring minutes after unconsciousness.
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