Fatal Choking on Food/Foreign Body: 3 autopsy cases.

Kim, Youn Shin; Lim, Hoisoon

Case Report

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2007;31(1):95-98.
Published online May 31, 2007.

Fatal Choking on Food/Foreign Body: 3 autopsy cases.

¹Department of Forensic Medicine, National Institute of Scientific Invastigation, Korea. ysk007@nisi.go.kr
²Department of Dentistry, Hwasun Cheonnam National University Hospital, Korea.

Abstract

Choking death means an asphyxiation by blockage of the internal air passages. If it is occurred while eating, it is also called 'Caf? Coronary' syndrome because it seems like acute heart attack due to coronary obstruction. Most chokings are accidental in manners but it may be homicidal although it is relatively uncommon. There is no specific autopsy findings indicative of choking. Therefore autopsy examination should not only attempt to demonstrate airway occlusion by a bolus of food or foreign body, but also to identify underlying risk factors such as an acute intoxication, denture or poor dentition, and neurologic disease. The age range of victims of present cases was 42-59 years old and blood alcohol concentration was in the range of 0.225%-0.32%. The items choked on was a small octopus, a small plastic bottle and a lump of raw meat. The authors describe autopsy findings, including location of obstruction, and risk factors in cases.

Key Words: Cafe coronary, Small octopus, Risk factors