Asphyxia and Anoxia

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Asphyxia and Anoxia

• Dr. Abdulmonem Al-Hayani
• MBChB, DipFMS(Lon), PhD(Aber)

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OutcomeAimsGoals

• Why this lecture?
• Definitions of Asphyxia and Anoxia?
• Signs of Asphyxia?
• Types of Asphyxia (Causes)
• Common examples of Anoxia and Asphyxia

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Why this lecture?
As GPs, we will see many cases of Asphyxia
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Definition of Asphyxia

• Situations in which there is an obstruction to
  breathing
• Body will be deprived to O2
• Either no air or insufficient air getting into
  the body

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Definition of Anoxia

• Anoxia Hypoxia

Oxygen already present in the body
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Definition of Anoxia

• Failure of O2 which is already in the body to get
  into the tissues
• Causes of anoxia
• Shock
• Anemia
• CO poisoning
• Heroin intoxication

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Signs of Asphyxia
Congestion
Petechail Hemorrhage
Cyanosis
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Types (causes) of Asphyxia

• Environmental
• Crush Asphyxia
• Suffocation/Smothering
• Positional Asphyxia
• Chocking
• Compression of the Neck
• Hanging/Strangulation

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Example of Asphyxia
Drowning
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Drowning

• Where?
• Sea
• River
• Canal
• Bath
• others

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Drowning

• Body recovered dead?
• Death before entering water (concealment of
  homicide)
• Immersion
• True drowning
• Death in water from other causes (heart diseases,
  trauma)
• Hypothermia

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True drowning (Asphyxia)

• Phases of drowning
• Breath holds
• Inhalation of water, coughing, vomiting and loss
  of consciousness
• Convulsions, respiratory arrest then cardiac
  arrest

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Drowning

• Types?
• Fresh water
• Sea water

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Autopsy signs of Drowning

• Classical signs only in 35 of cases
• Froth in nose and mouth
• Pulmonary edema
• Overdistention of lungs
• Dry drowning

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Autopsy signs of Drowning

• 5. Middle ear hemorrhage
• 6. Chemical tests (unreliable)
• 7. Non-specific changes of immersion

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Autopsy signs of Drowning

• The best sign is

Diatom Test
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Example of Anoxia
Fire Fumes Inhalation
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Fire Fumes

• Commonest cause of death in fires
• Autopsy signs of fire fumes inhalation
• Burns to air passages
• SOOT
• Pulmonary edema
• Toxins in blood e.g. cyanide, plastics chemicals
  etc

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The most useful sign is
Carbon Monoxide Level in Blood
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Summary
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Key Lesson

• As a GP you will see many cases of Asphyxia and
  Anoxia, so please think about a possibility of
  crime when you see such cases

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Questions Comments