Differential diagnosis of asphyxial deaths

Abstract

Asphyxial deaths can be due to hanging, ligature or manual strangulation, drowning, smothering, choking, chest compression, positional asphyxia or oxygen deficiency. The aim of the present study is to overview the main findings at death scene, autopsy, biochemical and toxicological analysis, high lighting the parameters that can help to distinguish these types of asphyxia. Among the features that can individualize each kind of asphyxial death, there are the skin injuries on the victim neck, in cases of hanging, manual or ligature strangulations; the wounds on the nose and mouth, in cases of smothering; the rib fractures in cases of chest compression; foreign bodies obstructing the internal airways, in cases of choking and the presence of suspect gases in deceased blood and tissues, and a compatible atmosphere analysis, in deaths resulting from displacement of environmental oxygen by inert gases.