Course of Near-hanging Victims Succumbed to Death: A Seven Year Study
Introduction: Near hanging refers to victims who survive a hanging injury following attempted hanging, long enough to reach hospital. Delayed deaths in near hanging patients are mostly due to complication of hanging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the demographics, mortality patterns...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2015-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/5647/11189_CE(RA1)_F(T)_PF1(PAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Near hanging refers to victims who survive a
hanging injury following attempted hanging, long enough to reach
hospital. Delayed deaths in near hanging patients are mostly
due to complication of hanging. The purpose of this study was
to evaluate the demographics, mortality patterns and cause of
delayed deaths in near hanging victims.
Materials and Methods: In this study autopsy files over a seven
year period from 2007 to 2013 were reviewed, and data of near
hanging deaths (attempted hanging cases who succumbed to
death and subjected for medicolegal autopsy) was extracted.
Records of 14,000 autopsies was reviewed, and 10 deceased
having died delayed deaths after near hanging episode were
identified. In each case, the patients’ details, including gender,
age, type of suspension, type of ligature material used for hanging
and subsequent hanging mark produced were reviewed using
autopsy reports and photographs taken during autopsy.
Results: Demographic and pathological aspects of the each case
discussed to throw light on autopsy findings in victims who died
following near hanging. Complete suspension was present in 3
cases, while partial suspension was present in 7 cases. Survivals
in delayed death after near hanging episode have ranged from 9 h
to 72 d. Hypoxic encephalopathy was the most common cause of
death, followed by pneumonia.
Conclusion: Most of the near hanging patients did succumb
to hypoxic encephalopathy; however, consolidation of lungs
(pneumonia) was the next common cause of death reflecting need
for aggressive oxygen therapy and selective resuscitation should
be performed in all such cases. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |