Sudden Deaths Due to Choking

Death due to accidental choking is observed in all age group and small children below 4 years of age are the common victims. Choking is commonly seen in children when objects such as small toys, table tennis ball and coins are placed in mouth and inhaled. Food is the most common cause of choking and food which is the life provider can become an asphyxiating agent at times. Children younger than one year of age are more likely to aspirate food, whereas older children tend to choke on non-food items. Aspiration of gastric contents is common in individuals with a decreased level of consciousness in drug overdose and during anaesthesia. The risk of aspiration is high after removal of an endotracheal tube because of residual effects of sedative drugs, the presence of a nasogastric tube, swallowing dysfunction related to upper airway sensitivity, glottic injury and laryngeal muscular dysfunction. Aspiration can present with acute respiratory distress but in many elderly individuals, it is silent. We hereby report cases of sudden death due to choking which were brought to our mortuary for autopsy.