Study of violent asphyxial deaths in Rajkot Region

• Author Details:   
• DK Vadgama
• PJ Manvar
• PR Varu
• RD Vaghela
• RK Mashru

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Background: The violent deaths are increasing day by day in the developing world. Deaths due to asphyxia are one of the most important causes in the violent deaths. The study provides epidemiological analysis of autopsy record on violent asphyxial deaths.
Material and Methods: A Retrospective study of violent asphyxial deaths (100 cases) is carried out at Forensic Medicine Department of P. D. U. Government Medical College, Rajkot (Gujarat) during the period of January 2014 to March 2016.
Results: Drowning (52%) is the most commonly encountered violent asphyxia death. Males are most common victims. Most commonly involved age group is 21-30 years (28%), followed by age group 31-40 years (27%). Among the cases of Drowning, 48.07% cases were accidental and remaining 44.23% and 7.69% cases were suicidal and homicidal respectively. Most of the cases (35%) of hanging were suicidal. While 2 cases were of homicidal hanging. All the cases of Smothering (4%) and of strangulation (5%) were homicidal in nature.

Keywords: Mechanical asphyxial death, violent death, Strangulation, Hanging, Drowning, Smothering