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Asphyxia


Lorenzo Gitto, M.D.
Ponni Arunkumar, M.D.

Last author update: 18 July 2022
Last staff update: 18 July 2022

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PubMed search: Asphyxia

Lorenzo Gitto, M.D.
Ponni Arunkumar, M.D.
Page views in 2021: 3,163
Page views in 2022 to date: 3,674
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Essential features | Classification | Pathophysiology | General postmortem findings | Microscopic findings | Suffocation | Strangulation | Mechanical asphyxia | Drowning | Special types | Case reports | Clinical images | Gross images | Board review style question #1 | Board review style answer #1 | Board review style question #2 | Board review style answer #2
Cite this page: Gitto L, Arunkumar P. Asphyxia. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/forensicsasphyxia.html. Accessed December 6th, 2022.
Definition / general
  • Asphyxia: generic term that indicates a condition resulting from an interference with respiration due to the lack of oxygen in the air or in the blood, a failure of cells to utilize oxygen or a failure of the body to eliminate carbon dioxide
    • Body does not receive or utilize an adequate amount of oxygen
    • Impairment of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange
    • Loss of consciousness and death result from progressive hypoxia / anoxia
Essential features
  • Numerous classifications are reported in the literature
  • Types of asphyxia: suffocation (smothering, choking, confined space and vitiated atmosphere), strangulation (hanging, manual strangulation, ligature strangulation), mechanical (positional, compression), drowning, special types (autoerotic, incaprettamento, judicial hanging, mass suicide hanging)
  • 3 main mechanisms: respiratory, vascular and nervous
  • External findings are nonspecific but may support the diagnosis: ligature marks, petechiae, cyanosis
  • Internal findings suggestive of asphyxia: hyoid and larynx injuries, neck muscles hemorrhage, visceral petechiae
Classification
  • Numerous classifications are reported in the forensic literature (J Forensic Sci 2010;55:1259):
    • A comprehensive classification of asphyxia in the forensic context includes:
      • Suffocation: asphyxia due to the mechanical obstruction of the respiratory orifices or inadequate amount of oxygen in the environment (smothering, choking, confined spaces / vitiated atmosphere) (West J Emerg Med 2018;19:707)
      • Strangulation: asphyxia due to external compression of the neck using the body's own weight or a force other than the body's weight (hanging, ligature strangulation, manual strangulation) (J Emerg Trauma Shock 2011;4:320)
      • Mechanical asphyxia: asphyxia due to impaired breathing secondary to the body being in an unnatural position or severe compression to the neck, chest or other areas of the body that make respiration difficult or impossible (positional asphyxia, traumatic asphyxia, smothering, choking and strangulation)
      • Drowning: asphyxia due to partial or complete submersion of the body in a liquid resulting in liquid inhalation, impairment of pulmonary exchanges and oxygen deprivation (Acad Forensic Pathol 2018;8:8)
      • Special types: asphyxias that show combined or unusual mechanisms
Pathophysiology
  • Classically, asphyxia has been described as the result of the impairment of 3 components (single or combined) (J Forensic Sci 2010;55:1268)
    • Respiratory: obstruction of the airways or impairment of respiration
      • Usually, it is not the primary mechanism
      • Results in progressive or sudden partial pressure of oxygen (PO2 - the amount of oxygen gas dissolved in the blood) reduction until it reaches levels that are incompatible with life
    • Vascular: compression of the neck vessels
      • Vascular mechanism is responsible for the rapid loss of consciousness
      • Significant arterial blood flow reduction (carotid arteries account for approximately 67% of cerebral blood flow)
      • Jugular vein compression resulting in stasis and congestion
    • Nervous: the compression or stimulation of specific reflex areas of the neck may result in immediate death
      • Carotid sinus: located at the base of the internal carotid artery just superior to the bifurcation of the internal carotid and external carotid; compression of the carotid sinus is a hypothesized cause of sudden death (J Forensic Sci 2013;58:1644)
      • Vagus nerve: vagal stimulation is a known cause of potential life threatening cardiac events, including cardiac arrest and sudden death (Head Neck 2016;38:E2419, Heart 2011;97:623)
General postmortem findings
  • External findings:
    • Nonspecific but may support the diagnosis in the context of a thorough medicolegal investigation
    • Ligature marks: marks made by any cord-like objects used for the purposes of strangulation
    • Petechiae: pinpoint hemorrhages frequently observed in asphyxia related deaths
    • Cyanosis: bluish discoloration of the skin
      • From the Greek term κυανός, which means dark blue
      • Depends on the absolute amount of reduced hemoglobin in the arterial blood
      • Requires at least 5 g of reduced hemoglobin per 100 mL arterial blood (StatPearls: Central and Peripheral Cyanosis [Accessed 20 May 2022])
      • In asphyxia with neck compression, cyanosis is typically observed on the face as a result of the jugular veins obstruction, which prevents adequate venous return from the cerebral circulation (J Forensic Sci 2015;60:1216)
      • Postmortem lividity may mimic facial cyanosis if the victim was found in a prone position: let the body rest for 12 - 24 hours in a supine position to evaluate the attenuation of the lividity and distinguish it from real cyanosis (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2019;40:129)
  • Autopsy findings: neck injuries may be observed in asphyxias with neck compression mechanisms
    • Layer by layer dissection of the anterior neck following vascular decompression of the neck is critical to evaluate the neck structures (Acad Forensic Pathol 2016;6:45)
    • Hyoid bone:
    • Larynx (Acad Forensic Pathol 2016;6:486):
      • Injuries generally seen in homicide by manual strangulation
      • Less frequent in hanging
      • May occur after an accidental fall or sport activities
      • Possible injuries following resuscitation maneuvers (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1999;20:31)
    • Neck muscles:
      • Muscles hemorrhage may be found in neck compressions
      • It can be difficult to differentiate the hemorrhages associated with postmortem hypostasis from true bruising caused by strangulation (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2009;30:322)
      • Bodies found in the prone position typically show extensive lividity involving the face and neck, which may result in hypostatic hemorrhages within the soft tissues of the neck
      • Hemorrhages may be the result of medical treatments or artifact due to resuscitation maneuvers (J Forensic Leg Med 2015;33:39)
    • Visceral petechiae (subpleural or subepicardial) are not specific since they can be observed in asphyxia as well other conditions, such as sepsis and infections
    • Congestion and edema:
      • Can be seen in any autopsy (nonspecific)
      • Due to obstructed venous return and subsequent tissues swelling
      • Generally observed on the face, neck and chest organs
Microscopic findings
Suffocation
  • Broad spectrum of conditions
  • Generally indicates a mechanical obstruction of the respiratory orifices or inadequate oxygen in the environment, resulting in the failure of oxygen to reach the blood
    • Respiratory component is the primary mechanism involved in this type of asphyxia

Smothering
  • Mechanical obstruction of the mouth and nose by hands, soft or hard material, or mobile solids able to block airflow
  • Autopsy findings may be minimal or absent
  • Homicide:
    • Victims are usually elderly, children or debilitated subjects
    • Requires a remarkable physical disproportion between the aggressor and the victim
    • Usually committed by hands or other material (pillows, cloth, adhesive tape, etc.)
    • Autopsy findings:
      • Usually scarce
      • Tears and lacerations of the labial, buccal and gingival mucosa
      • Nasal bleeding and nasal bone fractures
      • Facial abrasions
      • Presence of facial injuries may indicate that the victim was alive and actively tried to resist the aggression
      • If a pillow or a cloth is used, vital aspiration of fabric fibers may be proved at histology (Int J Legal Med 2009;123:517)
    • Pediatric deaths:
      • Usually no external signs due to the physical disproportion between aggressor and victim
      • Difficult to prove
  • Suicide:
    • Less common than homicides
    • Plastic bag suffocation is the main method of suicidal smothering (J Forensic Sci 2016;61:361)
      • Head is inside a limited space
      • During inspiration, the plastic bag adheres to the face, obstructing the mouth and nostrils
      • There is a combined mechanism of mechanical obstruction and rapid oxygen depletion (see Vitiated atmosphere)
      • Can be combined with inert gas inhalation
      • Can be homicidal (when the victim is impaired)
      • Can be accidental (children playing with plastic bags)
  • Accident:

Choking
  • Occlusion (partial or total) of the airways by foreign bodies, leading to respiratory blockage and potentially death
  • Can be observed in any age category but typically in the elderly and children
  • Diagnosis is usually suspected based on the clinical history
  • Diagnosis is confirmed at autopsy when the airway is found occluded and the foreign body is retrieved
  • Accident is the most common manner of death in choking
    • Elderly: typically in subjects with poor dentition, neurologic deficit, swallowing problems or psychiatric disorders (J Forensic Sci 2007;52:176)
      • Food is the most common foreign body
    • Children: typically occurs while playing
    • Alcohol and drugs may increase the risk of choking in otherwise healthy subjects (J Forensic Sci 2011;56:128)
    • Café coronary syndrome: sudden collapse of apparently healthy subjects during meals in the absence of any sign of asphyxia, respiratory distress or neurological symptoms (Med Leg J 2021;89:264)
      • Typically occurs when the subject swallows a food bolus (usually meat) larger than the esophagus can accept
      • Victims are typically elderly with poor dentition and history of neurological or psychiatric disorders
      • Due to the absence of choking symptoms, the death is commonly erroneously attributed to myocardial infarction
      • Most fatal cases are unwitnessed
    • Homicide is uncommon:
      • Foreign body is forced into the victim's airway
      • Can be mistaken for suicide or accident (Med Sci Law 1992;32:65)
    • Suicide is uncommon:
      • Can be suspected if the victim has a history of psychiatric disorder and previous suicide attempts (Clin Ter 2017;168:e293)

Confined space and vitiated atmosphere
Strangulation
  • Asphyxia due to an external compression of the neck
  • Can be suicidal (body's own weight), accidental or homicidal (a force other than the body's weight)

Hanging
  • Fatal compression of the neck by means of a ligature that is constricted by the weight of the body
    • Full body weight is not needed to cause hanging
      • 4 pounds of pressure is required to occlude jugular veins (preventing venous drainage of head) and 5 - 11 pounds to occlude carotid arteries
      • Loss of consciousness occurs within 10 - 15 seconds; death within 3 - 5 minutes
      • Amount of body weight changes based on body positions and different hanging types (J Forensic Sci 2010;55:1278)
      • Amount of body weight needed to cause hanging can be roughly estimated (Forensic Sci Int 2001;123:172)
  • Types of hanging:
    • Based on the degree of body suspension (J Emerg Trauma Shock 2011;4:320):
      • Complete (suspension hanging): the whole body is suspended
      • Partial (incomplete): the body is partially touching the ground
    • Based on the location of the knot (Mymensingh Med J 2008;17:149):
      • Typical hanging: the knot of the ligature should be at the nape of the neck and the point of suspension is in the occipital area
      • Atypical hanging: the knot of the ligature at any site other than the nape of the neck
  • Other terms related to hanging:
    • Near hanging: when a subject survives a hanging injury long enough to reach the hospital (J Clin Diagn Res 2015;9:HC01)
    • Judicial hanging: modality of public execution for capital crimes
  • Autopsy findings:
    • Ligature mark: pressure abrasion that develops when there is a prolonged pressure on the skin surface, producing a dried, dark brown, parchment appearance (Egypt J Forensic Sci 2016;6:248)
      • Typically is oblique and directed upwards (differential diagnosis with ligature strangulation where the mark is typically horizontal)
      • Typically interrupted at the level of the knot, unless multiple loops around the neck are present
    • Periligature injuries: additional injuries surrounding the primary ligature mark (J Clin Forensic Med 2003;10:255, J Forensic Leg Med 2014;22:80)
      • Examples: rope burns and nail marks
    • Facial congestion, cyanosis and petechiae
    • Dribbling of saliva or seminal fluid
    • Neck muscles hemorrhage and hyoid / larynx fractures uncommon
    • Simon sign: hemorrhage into the anterior aspect of the intervertebral discs, usually at the level of the lumbar spine (Med Leg J 2022;90:52)
      • Can be seen in other types of death (e.g., blunt force trauma)
    • Amussat sign: transverse laceration of the carotid intima (J Forensic Sci 2011;56:132)
  • Suicide is the most common manner of death (Int J Epidemiol 2005;34:433)
  • Accident is uncommon (Egypt J Forensic Sci 2016;6:310, J Clin Pathol Forensic Med 2014;5:1)
  • Homicide is rare:

Manual strangulation
  • Asphyxia mechanism in which the neck compression results from a pressure applied by hands, forearms or other limbs
  • Independent from the victim's body weight
  • May result in the compression of airway, vessels and nervous stimulation or a combination
  • Some physical restraint mechanisms may result in manual strangulation injuries or death
    • Choke hold: the pressure is applied to the anterior aspect of the neck, compressing the airway and blocking the air passage
    • Carotid restraint: the forearm of the restrainer is flexed at the antecubital fossa over the anterior neck, compressing the carotid arteries on the lateral aspects of the neck, blocking the blood flow to the brain and causing rapid unconsciousness
    • Banned by the majority of law enforcements since 1980s because it is considered unsafe (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1982;3:253)
  • Autopsy findings:
    • Bruising due to neck compression by hands:
      • Fingers: linear, parallel bruises connected to the fingerpad contusions due to the compression and sliding of the finger on the affected area
      • Fingerpads: oval / round bruises of different sizes due to the compression by fingertips
      • May be more prominent on one side of the neck but a single, larger, thumb-like bruise on the opposite side of the clustered fingertip contusions may also be present
    • Abrasions due to fingernail scratches:
      • There may be linear scratches if the fingernails are dragged down the skin or curved marks when the skin is just gripped
      • Fingernail marks on the neck can also be self inflicted by victims in the attempt to extricate themselves from the offender or an intentional hanging
    • Hyoid bone fractures, laryngeal cartilage fractures and neck soft tissue hemorrhages may occur
    • Layer by layer neck dissection is mandatory
      • Gross and microscopic examination of the carotid sinus area helps in ruling out deaths due to vagal inhibition
    • Findings are not specific but the combination of subconjunctival petechial hemorrhages, hyoid - laryngeal injury and injury to the skin or soft tissues of the neck may support the diagnosis (Med Sci Law 2001;41:135)
  • Delayed injuries or death may occur in survivors (Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2009;71:132, Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1989;98:824)
  • Matching of hands and finger marks with neck injuries is hard and not reliable (J Forensic Sci 2006;51:381)
  • Exclusively seen in homicides
    • Usually results from a combination of manual and ligature neck compression

Ligature strangulation
  • Asphyxia mechanisms in which the neck compression results from a pressure applied by any cord-like objects (rope, electric wires, etc.)
  • Independent from the victim's body weight
  • Ligature marks can be complete (full circumference of the neck) or incomplete (interrupted)
  • Generally, the ligature mark is horizontal (Forensic Res Criminol Int J 2020;8:8)
    • Exceptions:
      • Relevant height discrepancy between offender and victim
      • Victim is in recumbent posture (e.g., adult who kills a child)
      • Victim is sitting and the assailant applied the ligature on the neck while standing behind
    • Differential diagnosis with hanging, in which the mark is generally oblique and directed upwards
  • Ligature marks may show a heterogeneous pattern due to several reasons (multiple loops around the neck, movements of the victim during strangulation, etc.)
  • Autopsy findings (J Forensic Leg Med 2016;42:19):
    • Ligature mark on the neck area
      • Fingernail abrasions may be present
    • Internal findings are the same as manual strangulation but are less frequent
    • Facial congestion and cyanosis are more prominent than in manual strangulation
      • Ligature strangulation mainly results in venous total occlusion rather than arterial compression
  • More common in homicides (Forensic Sci Int 2005;152:61)
  • Suicides are occasionally described (Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2020;16:123, Forensic Sci Int 2020;2:100098, Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2009;30:369)
  • Accidental ligature strangulation may occur, especially in children and adolescents (J Pediatr Neurosci 2011;6:164, J Clin Forensic Med 2006;13:148)
Mechanical asphyxia
  • Impaired breathing due to:
    • Acquired body unnatural position (positional asphyxia)
    • Severe compression to the neck or chest or other areas of the body that make the respiration difficult or impossible (traumatic or compressive asphyxia)
    • Mechanical obstruction of the airways; includes smothering, choking and strangulation

Positional asphyxia
  • Occurs when the victim is immobilized in a position which causes mechanical interference with pulmonary ventilation, leading to respiratory failure and death (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2003;24:292)
  • Scene investigation typically gives relevant clues to determine the cause and manner of death
  • Prolonged head down position of the body interferes with respiration and blood circulation due to intra-abdominal organs compressing the diaphragm, causing increased intrathoracic pressure and compression of inferior vena cava (Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2008;4:51)
  • Prolonged hyperflexion or hyperextension of the neck may result in airway obstruction (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2011;32:31)
  • Unnatural chest positions may interfere with the physiologic rib cage expansion and retraction, resulting in reduced gas exchange (Medicine (Baltimore) 2018;97:e11041)
  • Hogtie position: the subject's wrists are handcuffed behind their back with ankles strapped and legs flexed back so the person is bent backwards
  • Autopsy findings:
    • If the positional asphyxia results from physical restraint, abrasions / bruises may be found at the level of compression
  • Typically accidental (J Forensic Sci 2010;55:646)
  • Homicides have been described (Rom J Leg Med 2014;22:229)

Compression asphyxia
  • External pressure on the body prevents physiologic respiration
  • Also called traumatic or crush asphyxia
  • Usually due to external compression of chest / abdomen by heavy weight (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2014;35:80)
    • Commonly observed in soft drink vending machine tipping, motor vehicle accidents, cave related accidents and mass disasters (earthquake, collapsed buildings) (Lancet 2012;379:748)
  • Primary mechanism of death is flail chest
    • Adult male requires 2550 ± 250 N of chest applied distributed static force (260 ± 26 kg with earth gravity) or 4050 ± 320 N of dynamic force to cause flail chest from short term chest compression (Med Sci Law 2017;57:61)
  • Frequently observed in children:
  • Autopsy findings:
    • Related to the thoracoabdominal compression, which results in venous hypertension in the valveless cervicofacial venous system (Int J Emerg Med 2010;3:379)
      • Facial and conjunctiva severe congestion and cyanosis
      • Conjunctival hemorrhage
      • Facial and upper chest petechiae
      • Heavy and dark red lungs with or without subpleural petechiae
    • Hemorrhage in the soft tissues may be present
  • Compression asphyxia is uncommon but accident is the most common manner of death
Drowning
  • Asphyxia due to partial or complete submersion of the body in a liquid, resulting in liquid inhalation, impairment of pulmonary exchanges and oxygen deprivation

Stages of drowning (Int J Legal Med 2021;135:281)
  • Stage 1: surprise / reflective inspiration
    • Victim recognizes the risk and takes a deep breath to fill the lungs with as much air as possible
    • Usually lasts a few seconds
  • Stage 2: apnea
    • Victim holds their breath in the attempt to not allow water to enter the airways
    • Usually lasts less than 1 minute
  • Stage 3: deep breathing / expiratory dyspnea
    • Increasing hypoxia and hypercapnia, due to the apnea phase, leads to stimulation of the respiratory centers with expiratory dyspnea and rapid swallowing that allows water to enter the airway and GI tract
  • Stage 4: convulsive
    • Due to lack of oxygen, brain anoxia results in bradycardia, arrhythmias and convulsions
  • Stage 5: terminal apnea / death
    • Both breathing and circulation stop

Freshwater versus saltwater drowning
  • Any difference in severity of fresh versus salt water drowning is unproven
  • Freshwater drowning: hypotonic fresh water diffuses across the alveolar capillary membrane into the pulmonary microcirculation and then throughout the body, causing dilution of electrolytes and hemolysis (Pediatr Clin North Am 2001;48:627)
  • Saltwater drowning: water dilutes alveolar surfactant; circulating plasma is drawn via osmosis into alveoli, resulting in hemoconcentration and increased blood electrolyte levels (Exp Ther Med 2017;13:2591)

Near drowning
Cold shock
  • Sudden skin cooling may result in a cold shock response characterized by peripheral vasoconstriction, hypertension, inspiratory gasp and hyperventilation with swimming inability and liquid aspiration (Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17:8984)

Cold water immersion
  • Complications arise based on the body temperature (Physiology (Bethesda) 2016;31:147):
    • Body temperature below 35 °C leads to confusion, disorientation and decreased muscle coordination
    • Body temperature below 33 °C leads to hypoventilation, bradycardia and irregular breathing
    • Body temperature below 30 °C leads to stupor or unconsciousness and coma
    • Body temperature below 28 °C leads to ventricular fibrillation
    • Body temperature below 25 °C leads to cardiac arrest and death

  • Autopsy findings (Acad Forensic Pathol 2018;8:8):
    • Drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion, based on ruling out all other causes of death via complete autopsy and toxicology
    • May see bloody froth in the airway, water in the stomach, cerebral edema, petrous or mastoid hemorrhage
    • Lung overinflation (emphysema aquosum) (Int J Legal Med 2021;135:281)
    • Wrinkling of the skin, particularly involving the hands and feet (formerly called washerwoman changes) that develops when submerged in water for several hours; occurs regardless of whether the person died in the water (Acad Forensic Pathol 2016;6:19)
    • Postmortem lacerations / abrasions due to scraping along rough surfaces in the water or animal activity should not be confused with antemortem trauma (J Forensic Leg Med 2019;66:79)
  • Accident is common (Inj Prev 2015;21:e43):
  • Suicides have been reported (PLoS One 2020;15:e0231861)
  • Homicides are uncommon (Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2019;15:233):
    • Mostly involve children rather than adults
    • Victim may be incapacitated by alcohol or drugs
  • Undetermined is still one of the most common manners of death (Med Sci Law 2003;43:207)
  • Unconfirmed tests for drowning:
    • Diatoms (Int J Legal Med 2020;134:1037):
      • Diatoms are microscopic algae present in bodies of water; theoretically should never be present in a human unless they inhaled water
      • Best specimen for diatoms analysis is the bone marrow
      • Validity questionable because diatoms are present in soil and atmosphere, and samples are easily contaminated
      • Absence of diatoms does not rule out drowning
    • Postmortem electrolytes:
      • In saltwater drowning, Na and Cl concentrations in right and left heart blood should be widely different (Anesthesiology 1969;30:414)
      • Invalid if individual survived for a period of time or had significant CPR
      • Pleural effusion electrolyte analysis may be useful to distinguish between fresh and seawater drownings (J Forensic Leg Med 2009;16:321)
    • Sphenoid sinus fluid (Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2013;9:177):
      • Significant fluid in sphenoid sinuses (several milliliters) is suggestive of water aspiration; not a validated test
    • Aortic intimal staining (Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2015;11:442):
      • Arises from lysed erythrocytes staining the aorta, induced by hypotonic fluid entering the lungs during immersion
    • Drowning index (Leg Med (Tokyo) 2010;12:68):
      • Ratio of lung to spleen weight
      • Drowning index of 14.1 is considered the cutoff point to diagnose actual drowning cases
      • Limited to a postmortem interval of 2 weeks
Special types
Autoerotic asphyxia
  • Accidental deaths that occur during solitary sexual activity in which some type of apparatus is used to enhance sexual stimulation (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2005;26:45)
    • Not all autoerotic deaths are due to asphyxia
    • To diagnose an autoerotic asphyxia, the following criteria must be satisfied:
      • An asphyxia mechanism must be present
      • By definition, the deaths must be accidental
      • Pure autoerotic deaths require the victim to be alone (solitary: autoerotic comes from the Greek root auto, which means self or by itself)
      • Escape mechanisms must be present but they do not necessarily need to be seen on the scene

Incaprettamento
  • Homicidal strangulation typical of the Italian Mafia in which the victim is obligated in a modified hogtie position with the wrists and ankles tethered together behind the victim's back, the body in the prone position and an additional ligature is encircling the neck and attached to the bindings of the extremities (Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2003;24:51)

Judicial hanging
  • Modality of public execution for capital crimes (see Hanging)

Mass suicides by hanging
Case reports
Clinical images

Contributed by Lorenzo Gitto, M.D., Ponni Arunkumar, M.D. and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office

Hanging mark

Ligature strangulation mark

Multiple loop marks

Manual strangulation

Simon sign

Positional asphyxia


Neck dissection in asphyxia cases

Crush asphyxia

Plastic bag suffocation

Conjunctival petechiae

Eye hemorrhage

Wedging

Gross images

Contributed by Lorenzo Gitto, M.D., Ponni Arunkumar, M.D. and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office

Hyoid bone hemorrhage

Hyoid bone fracture

Larynx hemorrhage

Choking

Aspiration

Board review style question #1


A 27 year old woman is found dead on a riverbank. The body is fully dressed and the clothes are soaked and soiled. Investigations did not reveal evidence of foul play. The external examination findings are shown in the image and an irregular 1.4 x 1.3 cm laceration of the left frontal areas without hemorrhage of the soft tissues. Autopsy is negative except for a 30% obstruction of the left descending coronary artery. Toxicology analysis shows a blood ethanol concentration consistent with alcohol intoxication. What additional findings would support the suspected cause of death?

  1. Lung hyperinflation and water in the sphenoid sinus
  2. Multiple skin injuries on the anterior and lateral aspects of the neck
  3. Round bruises on the anterior aspect of the thighs
  4. Presence of a horizontal abrasion mark on the neck
  5. Conjunctival petechiae
Board review style answer #1
A. Lung hyperinflation and water in the sphenoid sinus are suggestive of drowning. Drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion that should be considered when other possible causes have been excluded. The figure shows foam coming out from the mouth and nostrils, which is a finding that supports drowning; however, considered alone, this finding is not specific for drowning since it can also be observed in other causes of death (e.g., severe pulmonary edema). The foam can be whitish, pink or red due to the rupture of pulmonary capillaries.

Multiple skin injuries on the anterior and lateral aspects of the neck (answer B) may suggest manual strangulation. In this case, the external examination showed only a laceration on the left frontal area, consistent with the body scraping along rough surfaces in the water or animal activity. Round bruises on the anterior aspect of the thighs (answer C) may suggest sexual assault; there was no investigative evidence of assault in this case and the foam from the airways would be an uncommon finding. A horizontal abrasion mark on the neck (answer D) may suggest homicidal strangulation. Facial congestion, cyanosis and petechiae and neck skin injuries are generally present, while foam from the airways would be an uncommon finding. Petechiae (answer E) is a nonspecific finding that can be virtually observed in all types of asphyxia and other types of deaths.

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Board review style question #2


A 73 year old man is found dead in his apartment. Autopsy reveals multiple neck bruises and abrasions as well as the finding shown in the image. Assuming that the death results from an asphyxia mechanism, what is the most likely manner of death?

  1. Manual strangulation
  2. Hanging
  3. Drowning
  4. Homicide
  5. Suicide
Board review style answer #2
D. Homicide. The figure shows a hemorrhage on the lateral aspect of the larynx, which together with multiple injuries to the neck, suggest manual strangulation. Hyoid bone fractures, laryngeal cartilage fractures and neck soft tissue hemorrhages may occur in manual strangulation, which is exclusively seen in homicides.

Manual strangulation, hanging and drowning (answers A, B and C) are specific types of asphyxia and represent causes of death, not manners of death. Larynx and hyoid injuries are less common in suicide (answer E). Moreover, suicide by manual strangulation is not possible.

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Reference: Asphyxia
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