Asphyxia

Defination.
“ Asphyxia – commonly equated to lack of oxygen.
- etynnologically means ‘ absence of pulsation‘
- anything that interfers with oxygenation can be caled
asphyxia though anoxia or hypoxia are more accurate.
- many medical / forensic conditionc lead to asphyxia.
 Mechanical Asphyxia
 Of most forensic importance.
 Normal oxygen tension 90 – 100 mutth2.
 Post mortem analysis of no value.
 Types of asphyxia.
 Suffocation – death from deprivation of oxygen.
- plastic bag.
 Smothering – blockage of external air passages.
- overlaying infants.
- gagging.
 Chocking – blockage of upper airway by foreign body food,
foreign body dentures.
 Throthing – strongulation by hand.
 Strangulation – most specific hand or ligatures ( garroting)
apply force on neck.
 “Mugging” – pressure from arm crroked from rear.
 Traumatic asphyxia.
 Sexual asphyxia – autoerotic or masochistic practices.
 Classic signs of Asphyxia.
 Petechial hemorhages “ Tardiens spots”.
 Congestion and oedema.
 Cynosis.
 Engorgement of the right heart.
 Fluidity of blood.
 Fatal pressure on neck
 Most complex and controvesial area of
asphyxial death.
 Mechanism of death
 Airway occlusion.
 Occlusion of neck veins.
 Compression of neck veins.
 Compression of carotoid arteries.
 Nerve effects – pressure baraveceptor in carotid
sinuses, caratid sheths and carotid body can lead
to bradycardia or total cardiac arrest ( vagal
inhibition, vasovagal shock, reflex cardiac arrest.
- Basis for “ commando punch”, common in
strangulation, choking, drydrowing.
 Manual Strangulation.
 Common method of homicide.
 Common in domestic homicides.
 Assailant often stronger than victim.
 Autopsy appearances of
manual strongulation.
Two groups (i) Local signs of violence.
(ii) Signs of mechanism of death.

(i) Bruising ( usually assailants) and

abrasions ‘ victims or assailant’.
- injuries may be anywhere on neck to
clamicle.
 Victims abrasions usually run parallele and
vertically in the long axis ofneck.
 Autopdy necessary to take fingernail
scrappings for DNA.
 Bruising with hematomas neck tissues.
 Beware of “ spourious bleeding”.
 Larynx damaged in various ways.
- radiography important.
- thyroid horns and hyoid horns usually fractured.
- cricoid and main alar of thyroid may be cracked.
 Ligature strangulation.
 Usually – homiscidal ( some suicidal a few
accidental).
 Variety of objects used.
 Mode of death more oftern “ classic asphyxia”.
 Ligature mark – pattern may be imprinted inslin.
- encircles neck horizontally and at lower level ( above
or below larrygeal prominence).
- often a “crossover point” present in homicide.
- oftn multiple in suicide.
- doesnot usually