asphyxia

The general term applied to all

forms of violent death which
results from the interference with
the process of respiration.

Theconditioninwhichthesupplyof
oxygentothebloodortothetissues
hasbeenreducedbelownormallevel.
TYPES OF ASPHYXIAL DEATH:
Anoxic Death: failureofthearterialbloodto
becomenormallysaturatedwithoxygen

Anemic-Anoxic Death: duetodecreased

capacityofthehearttocarryoxygen

Stagnant Anoxic Death: broughtaboutby

thefailureofcirculation

Histotoxic Anoxic Death: failureofthecellular

oxidativeprocess

anesthesia
pulmonary edema
Alcohol
Cyanide
Drowning
and Choking
Heart Failure, Shock,
A-V mal, embolism
High altitude
Patent foramen ovale
Hemorrhage,
Foreign body
impaction
Traumatic crush
asphyxia
Varicose veins
Torniquet use
Smothering and
overlaying
Carbon monoxide
poisoning
Pneumonia, Asthma,
Emphysema

hemoglobinemia
Classification of Asphyxia

hanging

strangulation

suffocation

drowning
traumatic crush
asphyxia
inhalation of irrespirable
gases
classification of hanging:

As to the location
of the ligature
and knot:

- typical
- atypical

As to the amount of
constricting force:

- complete
- partial
As to symmetry:

symmetrical
assymetrical
post-mortem findings in hanging:

Neck elongated and stretched with the head inclined on
the side opposite the knot
Lividity or pallor of the face with swollen and protruded
tongue
Eyes closed or partly opened with pupils dilated on one
side and small on the other
Blue lips with frothy saliva drooling
State of erection or semi-erection of the penis with
some seminal fluid on the meatus
Lividity or ecchymosis on the legs
mechanism of death in hanging:

Tracheal obstruction
Carotid compression
Vagal stimulation
Atlanto-axial dislocation
strangulation
by Ligature

RARELY suicidal

Usually homicidal and

accompanied by
evidence of struggle
or marks of violence
other forms of strangulation:

Manual Strangulation or Throttling
Palmar Strangulation
Garroting
Mugging or Strangle-hold
Stick Compression



manual
strangulation
COMPARO:
HANGING vs. STRANGULATION

Frequently above the
Adams apple

Ligature mark is
inverted V-shape,
the apex is on the
site of the knot

Ligature groove is
deepest at the site
opposite the knot

Usually below the
Adams apple

Ligature mark is
usually horizontal,
knot is on the same
horizontal plane

Ligature groove is
uniform in depth in its
whole course
Asphyxia by Suffocation
MECHANISM: Closure of air opening
or obstruction of the air passageway

Types:
- Smothering
- Choking
- Burking
types of smothering:

Overlaying

Gagging
Plastic bag
Suffocation
Accidental
Smothering of
Epileptic
Choking
- impaction of foreign body in the
respiratory passage such as:

1.Vomitus
2.Regurgitationfromthestomach
3.Bolusoffood(caf coronary)
4.Falseteeth
5.Bloodinoraloperations
6.Tuberculosis



asphyxia
by
drowning
Asphyxia by Drowning
SUBMERSION
Nostrils and mouth are submerged in water for
some time to prevent the free entrance of air into
the air passage and the lungs

It is not necessary for the whole body to be
submerged

Children drown in shallow pools or ponds

Drunks may drown in shallow creeks
Phases of Drowning:

1. Respiracion de Surprise
2. Phase of resistance
(first apnea)
3. Dyspneic phase
4. Another apnea
5. Terminal respiration

Causes of Death in Drowning:
TYPICAL
- cause of death is
asphyxia
ATYPICAL
- cardiac inhibition due to vagal stimulation
- laryngeal spasm
- submersion when unconscious
Time factor in drowning:
1 min. , considered fatal
4 min. , possibility of
revival
23 min., average time
for death

N.B. thelengthoftimefor
survivalindrowningis
proportionaltotheamountof
frothintherespiratorytract

Post-mortem findings:
Wetclothes,palefacewithforeign
bodiesclingingonskinsurface
Cutisanserinaorgooseskinor
gooseflesh
Firmlyclenchedhandswithobjects,
weedsorstones

Mouthclosedorhalf-
openwithtongue
protruding
Physicalinjuriesdueto
struggle

Penisandscrotumareretracted
Washerwomanshandsandfeet
Livideyes,conjuctivalinjection
anddilatedpupils

Internal findings in Drowning

Emphysema aquosum
Edema aquosum
Champignon d ocume

Tracheo-bronchial congestion
Fluid with bloody froth
Right side of the heart is
usually distended
conclusive findings in drowning:

Foreign bodies in hands; cadaveric spasm
Emphysema Aquosum
Edema Aquosum
Stomach contents: water or fluid,
corresponding to the medium where body
was submerged
Froth, foam or foreign body in the air
passage consistent with the medium
Water in the middle ear
floating
Naked body floats after 24 hrs.
Those with clothes or apparels
take more time

TETE DE NEGRI
Compression Asphyxia
Traumatic
or
Crush
Asphyxia
Causes:
Landslide
And
Masonry accidents

Highway
accidents

Rubble of collapsed
buildings

Mine Collapse and
Stampede
Burking

BURKE and HARE

Murderer sits or kneels
on the chest with one
hand covering the
mouth and nostrils of
the victim.




Inhalation of
Irrespirable
Gases
carbon monoxide
CARBONIC OXIDE
SILENT KILLER

From incomplete combustion of

carbon fuel as in burning of wood, oil,
coal, kerosene, gasoline and charcoal

Limits oxygen carrying capacity of the
blood due to its 250 X more affinity to
hemoglobin.
carbon dioxide

Product of respiration,
complete combustion
and fermentation or
decomposition of
organic matters

Found also in drainage
pipes, deep wells,
sewage tanks
hydrogen sulfide




hydrogen cyanide



the war gases:

LACRIMATOR or Tear Gas

Chloracetophenone
Bromobenzyl
Cyanide
Ethyl Iodoacetate
VESICANT or
Blistering Gas
Mustard Gas
Lewisite

STERNUTATOR or
Vomiting Gas

Diphenyl
Chlorarsine
Diphenyl
Cyanarsine
Dipenylamine
Chlorarsine

ASPHYXIANT or Choking
Gas

Chlorine
Phosgene
Chloropicrine
Diphosgene

BLOOD POISONS

Hydrocyanic Acid
Hydrogen Sulfide
Carbon Monoxide
PARALYSANTS or Nerve
Gas
Anti-cholinesterase

From the lost sea He rises,
Creating armies in every shore,
Turning men against their
brothers,
Till Man exists no more.

- NOSTRADAMUS