1/22. Basosquamous carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx with sudden death from asphyxia.Excluding laryngeal papillomas, neoplasms of the hypopharynx rarely cause sudden asphyxial death in adults. We describe the first such death from a carcinoma and review the literature for similar cases since 1966. A high clinical index of suspicion and early laryngoscopy in individuals with symptoms suggestive of hypopharyngeal neoplasia are important.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/22. Patent ductus arteriosus as a natural cause of pulmonary hemorrhage in infants: a medicolegal dilemma.Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a recognized risk factor for massive pulmonary hemorrhage (MPH) in the newborn and is generally seen in association with other MPH risk factors such as prematurity. We report 6 cases of sudden and unexpected death of infants older than 4 days with MPH and PDA at autopsy. The cases were reviewed for other factors that could contribute to MPH to ascertain whether PDA is directly linked to MPH. histology samples were examined for distribution of hemorrhage in the lungs and iron stained for hemosiderin evaluation. All of the cases had clinical histories and scene examinations which raised the differential diagnosis of mechanical asphyxia in the form of so-called overlayings. The diagnostic dilemma of attributing the MPH to the PDA as the sole cause, dual cause, or incidental finding is discussed. These cases illustrate the medicolegal dilemma faced by the pathologist, as well as the need for further research into the potential association of PDA with MPH.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/22. Dirty diving. Sudden death of a SCUBA diver in a water treatment facility.We report a case of a sudden death in a SCUBA diver working at a water treatment facility. The victim, an employee of the facility with a specialty in electronics, was a sport diver not qualified in commercial diving. While attempting to clean sludge from a blocked drain 25 ft under water, the diver was suddenly pinned against the drain valve when the sludge plug was broken up. We review the mechanics of the incident and the actual cause of death, asphyxia, as opposed to drowning. We believe this to be the first reported case of traumatic (pressure) asphyxia in a SCUBA diver.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.4keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/22. Sudden death due to asphyxia by esophageal polyp: two case reports and review of asphyxial deaths.asphyxia, not an uncommon cause of sudden death, may result from numerous etiologies. Foreign-body aspiration and strangulation are 2 extrinsic causes. airway obstruction may also be caused by laryngeal edema, asthma, infection, or anaphylaxis. Chronic causes of asphyxia include musculoskeletal diseases (eg, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), neurologic disorders (eg, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis), respiratory disease (eg, emphysema, chronic bronchitis), or tumors. The manner of death in cases of asphyxiation may be natural, accidental, homicide, or suicide. For the death investigator, determining the cause and manner of death can often be quite challenging.We report here 2 cases of an esophageal fibrovascular polyp causing sudden asphyxial death, review of the literature, and discussion of other differential diagnoses in the case of asphyxial death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.4keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/22. Mechanisms of unexpected and/or sudden death in lafora disease.A 23-year-old male was found dead wedged between two chairs at his home address. His past history included a diagnosis of lafora disease (a type of heritable progressive myoclonic epilepsy) at the age of 16 years. This had been characterised by the development of epilepsy and progressive motor impairment and mental deterioration. diagnosis had been confirmed by demonstration of mutation in the EPM2A gene on chromosome 6q24. At autopsy, petechial haemorrhages were noted of the face and conjunctivae bilaterally. There were no other significant findings apart from gastric contents within the airways. Death was attributed to positional asphyxia complicated by aspiration of gastric contents. Although death in lafora disease is usually predictable and often protracted, sudden and/or unexpected death may occur and involve status epilepticus, sudden unexpected epileptic death, choking, aspiration of gastric contents, and cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, the possibility exists of unnatural causes of death, such as accidents, provoked by epilepsy or physical inability of the victims to extricate themselves from dangerous situations, or homicides, provoked by difficulties in caring for individuals with significant and progressive disabilities.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/22. tuberous sclerosis presenting as a suspicious sudden death--a case report and review of sudden deaths in epilepsy.A case of a suspicious sudden death in a 19-year-old Caucasian female epileptic is presented. The brain showed characteristic lesions of tuberous sclerosis. In most sudden deaths in idiopathic epilepsy no causative lesion is found in the brain. A review of the past five years' cases attributed to sudden deaths in epilepsy from our department is presented, with particular reference to findings which might be construed as suspicious, e.g., signs of asphyxia and bruising in neck muscles, and to findings which support the diagnosis, e.g. biting of the tongue, voiding of urine, low levels of medication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/22. Sudden death due to a laryngeal cyst.A 68-year-old woman died suddenly at home; her body was found in an armchair in a sitting position. autopsy revealed a laryngeal cyst of a dilated secretory gland, located above the vocal cords, which obstructed the glottis, causing asphyxia. A review of the literature with forensic implications is given.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/22. Hypopharyngeal lipoma as a cause for sudden asphyxial death.Lipomas of the hypopharynx are uncommon tumors that are rarely life threatening. When positioned in the hypopharynx, asphyxia may be the result of the tumor size or sudden displacement into the oropharynx. We present a case of a large hypopharyngeal lipoma, review the literature, and discuss mechanisms by which these lesions may cause sudden asphyxial death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.2keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/22. Sudden asphyxial death due to a prolapsed esophageal fibrolipoma.Fibrolipomas of the esophagus are extremely uncommon benign tumors. Accurate diagnosis and resection are essential, due to their tendency to become impacted and obstruct the airway. The case is presented of a 56-year-old man who died suddenly of asphyxia because of upper airway obstruction by a prolapsed fibrolipoma of the esophagus.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/22. Sudden death by Lepomis macrochirus (the killer fish).In this unusual case, death was not caused by either anaphylactoid reaction to fish or by fish poisoning. Death was due to asphyxia caused by a live, whole fish occluding the mouth and upper airway.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = asphyxia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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