Asphyxia (Drowning & Suffocation)

Question 1

Classification of Drowning

Answer 1

1. Typical (wet)
2. Atypical (dry)
   - Immersion syndrome
   - secondary drowning syndrome

Question 2

Why typical drowning called wet drowning?

Answer 2

Because it characterised by inhalation of large volume of water

Question 3

What are the causes (mechanisms) of death in drowning? [6]

Answer 3

1. Asphyxia.
2. Ventricular fibrillation.
3. Laryngeal spasm.
4. Vagal inhibition.
5. Exhaustion.
6. Injuries.

Question 4

To dignose the drowning there are specific and non specific signs, mention it:

Answer 4

Specific
1. Frothy secretion.
2. Ballooning of the lungs.
3. Diatoms in deep tissues.
4. Goose skin.
non specific
1. Washerwoman hands and feet.
2. Weeds & gravel/soil in hand.

Question 5

Apart from the fact that the body will become salty, what is the difference between drowning in salt water and fresh water?

Answer 5

Salt water:
Pulmonary edema –> hypovolemia –> shock –> cardiac arrest.
Fresh water:
Hypervolemia –> cell swelling –> hemolysis –> high K –> ventricular fibrillation

Question 6

What is the mechanism of death in case of immersion syndrome?

Answer 6

1. Vagal inhibition.
2. Sudden cold water –> cardiac arrest.
3. Loss of consciousness (death from other causes)

Question 7

Ballooning of lung called

Answer 7

Emphysema aquosum

Question 8

Goose skin called

Answer 8

Cutis anserine.

Question 9

What is the meaning of Suffocation:

Answer 9

Mechanical obstruction to air ways due to causes other than constriction of the neck.

Question 10

Types of suffocation:

Answer 10

1. Smothering.
2. Gagging.
3. Overlying.
4. Chocking.
5. Traumatic asphyxia.

Question 11

Sexual asphyxia is common men or women?

Answer 11

Men

Question 12

Which type of suffocation include mouth only and which include both mouth and nose?

Answer 12

Mouth only –> gagging.
Both –> smothering.

Question 13

Clothes in mouth cause which type of suffocation?

Answer 13

Gagging

Question 14

sudden collapse of healthy subjects during meals in the absence of any sign of asphyxia, respiratory distress, or neurological symptoms… this syndrome is called:

Answer 14

café coronary

Question 15

Really … why it’s called café coronary

Answer 15

Because it’s common in café than in restaurants.
Very silly yah?
Actually Café Coronary Death is a Misleading Medical Term that had been put and Applied Wrongly by Haugen in 1963, Instead of Choking Death .. see this paper