Issues in the classification and pathological diagnosis of asphyxia

dc.contributor.authorByard, R.
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractAlthough asphyxial deaths often have very characteristic death scene features, the pathological diagnosis of asphyxia is often difficult as there are no pathognomonic findings at autopsy; i.e. features such as fluidity of the blood, congestion, oedema, engorgement of the right side of the heart and petechial haemorrhages are no longer considered diagnostic. For this reason, accurate evaluation of the death scene is required, with careful exclusion of injuries and underlying organic diseases that may have caused or contributed to death. Particular difficulties arise in infants and in the elderly. Classifying asphyxia by underlying pathophysiological processes as being due to failure in the supply, transfer, transport, uptake and utilization of oxygen provides a clearer indication of underlying mechanisms than categorizations based on circumstances.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityRoger Byard
dc.identifier.citationAustralian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2011; 43(1):27-38
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/00450618.2010.482107
dc.identifier.issn0045-0618
dc.identifier.issn1834-562X
dc.identifier.orcidByard, R. [0000-0002-0524-5942]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/65092
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAustralian Academy of Forensic Sciences
dc.rights© 2011 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2010.482107
dc.subjectasphyxia
dc.subjecthypoxia
dc.subjecthanging
dc.subjectsuffocation
dc.subjectchoking
dc.subjectsmothering
dc.subjectsudden infant death syndrome
dc.titleIssues in the classification and pathological diagnosis of asphyxia
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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