Asphyxia is a condition caused by insufficient oxygen to the body, which can result from abnormal breathing. There are two main types - physical asphyxia, caused by external forces blocking breathing like choking or strangulation, and chemical asphyxia, caused by inhalation of toxic gases like carbon monoxide or cyanide. Signs of asphyxia include cyanosis of the skin and organs, edema, dilated pupils, and petechial hemorrhages. Asphyxia can also occur during childbirth (birth asphyxia) due to issues like umbilical cord compression or placental problems. Proper diagnosis requires considering the circumstances, signs, and toxicology results.

1. Asphyxia

2. Definition
 a condition of deficient supply of oxygen to
the body that arises from abnormal breathing.
An example of asphyxia is choking. Asphyxia
causes generalized hypoxia, which affects
primarily the tissues and organs.

5. Physical Asphyxia
 It happens when a force or object keeps you from breathing.
 Lots of accidents can lead to it. Some examples of physical
asphyxia are:

6. Strangulation.
•If a cord or
rope or
other
object long
enough to
go around
neck
presses on
the airway,
it blocks
air from
getting to
lungs.
Suffocation
(smothering)
•happens
when
something
heavy
covers the
face or
chest and
prevents
breathing
Aspiration
Choking.
•food or an
object gets
stuck in
airway and
blocks air
from
getting to
lungs.
Drug
overdose.
Seizure
• Epileptic
seizures
• heart
failure
• broken
neck
• allergic
reaction

9. Chemical Asphyxia
Chemicals that can cause asphyxia include:
 Carbon monoxide : a colorless, odorless gas that comes from burning different types
of fuel
 Cyanide:- It keeps cells from taking oxygen in. due to breathe smoke during a fire,
have contact with certain industrial chemicals.
 Hydrogen sulfide. This gas smells like a rotten egg. It can come from sewage, liquid
manure, sulfur hot springs, and natural gas

10. Common (general) asphyxial Signs
External:
1. Livores mortis is well developed.
2. The face is often cyanosed and purple, and
sometimes swollen and oedematous.
3. The eyes are prominent, the conjunctivae are
congested and the pupils are dilated.
4. Petechial haemorrhages in the conjunctivae
5. Involuntary defecation, urination, discharge of
seminal fluid, pushing mucus plug from the cervix —
valuable but non-permanent signs.

11. Asphyxiation and childbirth
-Asphyxiation can occur during childbirth. This is called birth
asphyxia or perinatal asphyxia.
- Possible causes include:
 lack of oxygen in the mother’s blood
 reduced breathing in the mother due to anesthesia
 fever or low blood pressure in the mother
 umbilical cord compression
 poor function of the placenta
 placental abruption
 uterine rupture

12. The symptoms of birth asphyxia vary. Before
delivery, the baby might have an abnormal
heart rate or high acid levels in their blood.
During childbirth, a baby with birth asphyxia
may have:
 pale or blueish skin
 low heart rate
 weak reflexes
 weak cry or breathing
 gasping

14. Stages of asphyxia ( 4- 5 min.)
 Dyspnea
 Convulsions
 Apnea
 Final stage

15. Diagnosis (Classical asphyxia signs)
 History
 Circumstantial evidences
 Complete autopsy
 Toxicology

16. Internal signs:
 Hypoxia → increase in pulmonary blood
pressure → right heart failure → pulmonary
edema, froth at air passages, over distended
lungs and right ventricular dilatation.
External signs:-
 Swollen, cyanosed face-Prominent eye balls
with conjunctival petechiae-Swollen,
sometimes bitten tongue-Froth oozes from
mouth nostrils.-Deeply cyanosed lips, ears
and finger nails.

17. External examination ( general signs )

18. Types of drowning
 Wet "Typical" drowning→ aspiration of the drowning
fluids → hypoxic death "cause of death“ (signs of
drowning are evident)
 Dry "atypical" drowning:-Fluid was not aspirated into
the lower respiratory tract. Causes of death in such
condition: Laryngospasm: as a result of sudden entry of
fluid into the nose and upper airways.(signs of drowning
are absent or minimal)

19. Diagnosis of drowning Highly
suggestive signs of drowning:
Cadaveric spasm:
 on weeds, mud, sand, …etcFrothFine, odorless, white or
rarely blood stained
 Increase with chest compression
 Results from mixing of air, mucus and water during
forcible attempts at respiration