Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2010
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 1

Postural asphyxia secondary to organophosphorous poisoning

  • Author:
  • Prateek Rastogi, Tanuj Kanchan, Ritesh G Menezes
  • Total Page Count: 3
  • Page Number: 21 to 23

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore-575001, India.

Corresponding Author: Dr. Prateek Rastogi, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore-575001, India. E-mail: rastogiprateek@rediffmail.com.

Abstract

Postural asphyxia may be defined as an accidental abnormal body position resulting in restricted respiratory movements under unfortunate circumstances. Postural asphyxia is an important cause of, or contributor to death that is sometimes overlooked, usually because the history provided is inadequate or less frequently, because the pathologist fails to consider it. Although alcohol is frequently implicated in postural asphyxia it can actually occur in any sort of intoxication. We report a case offatal postural asphyxia secondary to attempted suicidal organophosphorous poisoning.

Keywords

Asphyxial death, Positional asphyxia, Postural asphyxia, Suicide, Organophosphorous poisoning