What Is Positional Asphyxia?

The body is confined to a certain abnormal position for a long time, which causes asphyxia due to obstruction of breathing movement and venous return. Human breathing requires three factors to work together: (1) the ventilation function of the lungs; (2) the patency of the airways; (3) the role of the muscle pump. The cause of death in orthostatic asphyxia cases is still controversial. Especially in the case of death caused by some non-lethal injuries during life, how to evaluate the role of suspension and injury on the cause of death is related to the judgment of the nature of the case and the criminal responsibility of the person responsible. Some people use animals to carry out simulation experiments, and the results show that the results of anatomical and blood gas analysis of experimental animals are completely consistent with the changes in asphyxiation seen in forensic identification. However, this asphyxial asphyxiation is not the same as choking, strangulation, strangulation, and asphyxiation caused by compression of the chest and abdomen, which are common in forensic practice. Neither mechanical violence directly affects the trachea and blood vessels of the neck, nor does mechanical violence directly affect the chest and abdomen. The cause of suffocation may be restrictive ventilation disorder and respiratory failure. After the upper limbs of the experimental animals were fixed, the upper limbs were restricted in movement, and the thorax passively pulled down due to the fall of body weight. The thorax lost its free expansion function, and the intercostal muscles were fixed in the inspiratory state, which prevented the exhalation. The smooth movement of air. At the beginning, the breathing process is completed by the diaphragm. As time goes on, the diaphragm is fatigued and respiratory function becomes worse and worse. The continuous accumulation of CO2 in the body affects the central respiratory function and makes the inhalation function worse and worse. Eventually, peripheral and central dyspnea, acidosis, respiratory failure, and asphyxia died.

Asphyxia due to abnormal posture

Orthostatic suffocation refers to the death of asphyxia caused by the body being restricted to a certain abnormal position for a long time, which prevents breathing movement and venous return. Asphyxia: As the body s breathing process is blocked or abnormal for some reason, the pathological state of tissue and cell metabolism disorders, functional disorders and morphological structural damage caused by hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention caused by the lack of oxygen in various organs and tissues in the body is called asphyxia. The focus of this disease is prevention, and the body should not be fixed in a certain position or posture for a long time.
Affected area
chest
Related diseases
Respiratory failure acute respiratory failure acute respiratory distress syndrome neonatal asphyxia chronic respiratory failure traumatic asphyxia traumatic asphyxia syndrome pediatric respiratory failure pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
Affiliated Department
Pediatric Pediatrics
Related symptoms
Respiratory failure apnea-like phenomenon bradycardia due to abnormal asphyxia
The body is confined to a certain abnormal position for a long time, which causes asphyxia due to obstruction of breathing movement and venous return. Human breathing requires three factors to work together: (1) the ventilation function of the lungs; (2) the patency of the airways; (3) the role of the muscle pump. The cause of death in orthostatic asphyxia cases is still controversial. Especially in the case of death caused by some non-lethal injuries during life, how to evaluate the role of suspension and injury on the cause of death is related to the judgment of the nature of the case and the criminal responsibility of the person responsible. Some people use animals to carry out simulation experiments, and the results show that the results of anatomical and blood gas analysis of experimental animals are completely consistent with the changes in asphyxiation seen in forensic identification. However, this asphyxial asphyxiation is not the same as choking, strangulation, strangulation, and asphyxiation caused by compression of the chest and abdomen, which are common in forensic practice. Neither mechanical violence directly affects the trachea and blood vessels of the neck, nor does mechanical violence directly affect the chest and abdomen. The cause of suffocation may be restrictive ventilation disorder and respiratory failure. After the upper limbs of the experimental animals were fixed, the upper limbs were restricted in movement, and the thorax passively pulled down due to the fall of body weight. The thorax lost its free expansion function, and the intercostal muscles were fixed in the inspiratory state, which prevented the exhalation. The smooth movement of air. At the beginning, the breathing process is completed by the diaphragm. As time goes on, the diaphragm is fatigued and respiratory function becomes worse and worse. The continuous accumulation of CO2 in the body affects the central respiratory function and makes the inhalation function worse and worse. Eventually, peripheral and central dyspnea, acidosis, respiratory failure, and asphyxia died.
Orthostatic asphyxia is a special and rare asphyxia. This deserves the attention of the forensic community, and it can be used as a reference in the identification of related cases in the future. The upper airway is blocked due to the continuous drooping of the head, and its suffocation mechanism is hypoxia caused by external breathing disorders.
Whole body state examination: It is a general observation of the whole body health status of the examinee, and it is the first step in the physical examination process. Including gender, age, temperature, breathing, pulse, blood pressure, development, nutrition, state of consciousness, face expression, posture, posture, gait, etc. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the patient's dress, personal hygiene, breathing or body odor, as well as the comprehensive assessment of the examinee's mental state and response to people and things in the surrounding environment, as well as the overall state and organ function.
Differential diagnosis of asphyxia caused by abnormal posture
1. Respiratory failure: Respiratory failure is a serious obstacle to pulmonary ventilation or ventilation due to various reasons, which prevents effective gas exchange, leading to hypoxia with (or without) carbon dioxide retention, which causes a series of physiological functions and Clinical Syndrome of Metabolic Disorders. Respiratory failure is an important part of the research on respiratory physiology and an important cause of death from respiratory diseases. It is also the application of various types of mechanical respiratory devices and respiratory physiological function crying in the Respiratory Failure Monitoring Unit (RUCU), which makes the treatment achieve significant results. Respiratory failure is difficult to diagnose clinically, mainly by arterial blood gas analysis.
2. Apnea-like phenomenon: Apnea refers to the abnormal breathing phenomenon of apnea over 20 seconds or less than 20 seconds but accompanied by bradycardia and purple group. According to the cause, it is divided into two types: primary and secondary. Primary apnea is divided into three types: central, obstructive and mixed. About 25% of preterm infants experience varying degrees of apnea.
Do not fix your body in a certain position or posture for a long time. Orthostatic asphyxiation is a rare mechanical asphyxiation death. Autopsy and autopsy have the general characteristics of asphyxiation. According to the scene, an autopsy can make an identification. In addition, before making orthostatic death, pay attention to the following issues: As long as there is no asphyxia and no pathological changes, it is necessary to exclude diseases that die within a short time after the onset of heart disease. For example, coronary heart disease. Severe mental illness should be ruled out. Sudden death caused by this change of body position after taking the medicine. To eliminate sudden death caused by taking drugs or alcohol. For the corpses with injuries, it is necessary to clarify the injuries, distinguish the major and minor, comprehensive analysis, and exclude mechanical injuries caused by fatal injuries. The nature of orthostatic asphyxia may be considered on the merits. Asphyxiation caused by suspending tied limbs for a long time is strictly a kind of negligent death, or accidental negligent death. Those responsible for such consequences should be punished. Orthostatic suffocation can also be seen in people in the car at the time of a traffic accident. When their mind is lost and their head and face flexed for a long time, or when their consciousness is impaired due to disease or drunkenness, their heads can be fixed similarly Suffocation caused by upper airway obstruction, especially in obese people, this type of death is obviously an accidental death. Intentional killings using orthostatic asphyxia are rare.

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