ASPHYXIA: Asphyxia is the LACK OF OXYGEN to the tissues.
Signs of asphyxia(asphyxial triad/ stigmata):
- Cyanosis
- Petechial hemorrhages(tar dieu spots)
- Congestion of all visceras.
Cyanosis
tar dieu spots
Congestion of liver
Classification of asphyxia:
Asphyxia can be classified on different basis.
- Mechanical asphyxia
- Pathological asphyxia
- Postural asphyxia
- Toxic asphyxia
- Environmental asphyxia
- Iatrogenic asphyxia.
Mechanical asphyxia includes hanging, strangulation and suffocation deaths.
SUFFOCATION DEATH:
1.SMOTHERING:
- It is a type of mechanical asphyxia done by the closure of the mouth and nostrils.
Postmortem features:
- Contusion and abrasion over the mouth and nostrils.
MEDICO-LEGAL IMPORTANCE:
1. Usually homicidal
2. Rarely accidental.i.e., when a mother feeds a baby it can sometime lead to smothering.
3. suicidal is also not uncommon.
2.CHOKING:
- It is a type of mechanical asphyxia which is due to the obstruction by the bolus of food or piece of bone.
CAFE CORONARY:
- In chronic alcoholics there is a reduced Gag reflux. Such persons after food die due to choking. These people have symptoms mimicking symptoms of a heart attack including chest pain, clenching the wrist, etc.,
POSTMORTEM FEATURES:
- Signs of asphyxia
- Presence of foreign body in the trachea or larynx.
MEDICO-LEGAL IMPORTANCE:
1. Usually homicidal
2. Can be accidental as in case of cafe coronary.
3.GAGGING:
- It is a type of mechanical asphyxia caused by thrushing a pad of cloth into the mouth against the posterior wall of pharynx.
POSTMORTEM FEATURES:
- Contusion on the inner aspect of the mouth.
- Abrasions of the inner aspect of the mouth.
- Dislocation of the teeth.
MEDICO-LEGAL IMPORTANCE:
Homicidal.
4.TRAUMATIC ASPHYXIA:
- It is a type of mechanical asphyxia caused by the fall of the building on the chest, run over of the tyre over the body, etc.,
POSTMORTEM FEATURES:
- Marked congestion of the area above the site of contact.
- Other signs of asphyxia.
MEDICO-LEGAL IMPORTANCE:
Usually accidental.
5.BURKING:
- It is the combination of smothering and traumatic asphyxia.
POSTMORTEM FEATURES:
- Contusion and abrasion over the mouth and nostrils.
- Marked congestion of the area above the site of contact.
- Other signs of asphyxia.
MEDICO-LEGAL IMPORTANCE:
Only homicidal.
PATHOLOGICAL ASPHYXIA:
Pathological asphyxia is given by GORDON’S CLASSIFICATION.
It is classified as
- Hypoxic hypoxia(anoxic anoxia)
- Anemic hypoxia
- Stagnant hypoxia
- Histotoxic hypoxia.
1.HYPOXIC HYPOXIA(ANOXIC ANOXIA):
Decreased oxygenation of blood in lungs.
Eg. Hanging, Strangulation, Suffocation death.
2.ANEMIC HYPOXIA:
Decreased O2 carrying capacity of the blood.
Eg. Carbon monoxide poisoning, chlorates,nitrates.
3.STAGNANT HYPOXIA:
Ineffective circulation of blood to tissues. Eg. Shock, Heat stroke.
4.HISTOTOXIC HYPOXIA:
Depression of oxidation process in tissues.
Eg. Cyanide poisoning.