1/4. Asphyxial deaths caused by automobile exhaust inhalation not attributable to carbon monoxide toxicity: study of 2 cases.The authors report two suicides that resulted from the intentional inhalation of automobile exhaust gases in which death occurred without the formation of physiologically significant amounts of carboxyhemoglobin. These circumstances are correlated with measurements of the involved vehicles' exhaust gases, which showed reduced concentrations of carbon monoxide present, reflecting improvements in automobile engine technology. In the absence of carbon monoxide toxicity, the authors attribute death in these cases to asphyxia caused by carbon dioxide intoxication and diminished atmospheric oxygen concentrations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. An unusual accidental death from reverse suspension.Deaths involving prolonged suspension head downwards have received little or no attention in the English-language literature, doubtless because they are extremely rare. An example, involving alcoholic intoxication as the sole complicating factor, is reported. The mechanism of death is also considered since this is plainly a subject of some interest and likely to provoke further thought and discussion.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. Traumatic asphyxial deaths due to an uncontrolled crowd.Nine people died of traumatic asphyxia due to an uncontrolled crowd at a community basketball game in new york city in 1991. We reviewed the circumstances, postmortem findings, and the causes of death. The majority of people had petechiae of the conjunctivae and face consistent with chest compression. There were minimal superficial blunt injuries and no fractures or acute intoxications. These deaths are often incorrectly attributed to blunt force injuries, while the cause typically is asphyxia due to chest compression.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Death due to positional asphyxia under severe alcoholisation: pathophysiologic and forensic considerations.In contrary to "physical restraint", describing a fixed body position due to external devices, "positional restraint" is defined as an abnormal body position, resulting from accidental fixation under unfortunate circumstances. We report on a remarkable case of positional asphyxia of an alcoholised young man after a fall down a staircase. On external examination, the body showed petechiae of the conjunctivae and oral mucosa, abrasions on the left zygomatic region and scratch marks, respectively. Neither broken fingernails, etc. nor signs of external violence against the neck were found. autopsy revealed haemorrhages in the praevertebral cervical musculature and Simon's sign. Haemorrhagic pulmonary edema and cerebral edema were observed; blood alcohol concentration: 2.60 g/l, urine alcohol concentration: 3.26 g/l. As cause of death, positional asphyxia after blunt head trauma has to be considered as well as lethal ethanol intoxication. To us, alcoholisation attributed to the fall and together with unconsciousness following blunt head trauma circumvented self-rescue efforts, and therefore, aggravated the potentially lethal impact of positional restraint.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |