To the problem of death of children from closure of respiratory tract by foreign object: expert observation

In the special forensic literature, information on the deaths of children from mechanical asphyxiation as a result of closure of the airways by foreign objects is small and fragmentary, a small number of works are devoted to them, despite the fact that the social significance of this problem is great.

An expert observation of a case of asphyxia developed in a child as a result of closure of the upper respiratory tract by a foreign object is given. The child played for 1.5 years and suddenly began to choke. A forensic examination of the corpse revealed the presence of a foreign body (part of a child’s toy) in the area of the vocal cords, completely covering the lumen of the entrance to the larynx; acute pulmonary bloating, hemorrhages in soft tissues from the area of entrance to the larynx, foci of acute pulmonary alveoli emphysema, hemorrhages in pulmonary tissue, signs of rapid death.

Forensic medical diagnosis: mechanical asphyxia from closing the lumen of the respiratory tract with a foreign body (the presence of a foreign body in the vocal cords, completely blocking the lumen of the entrance to the larynx; acute swelling of the lungs, hemorrhages in the soft tissues from the entrance to the larynx, foci of acute emphysema of the pulmonary alveoli, hemorrhages in the lung tissue, signs of rapid death).

The work of a forensic medical expert is often hampered by the lack of clinical data and the circumstances of the incident, as well as difficulties in interpreting the results of the study. In cases where adults are present during the aspiration of a foreign body by a child, respiratory failure is recorded with cyanosis of the face, breath holding, followed by paroxysmal unproductive cough, which indicates an existing threat of asphyxia. In this expert observation, the detailed circumstances of the incident provided by law enforcement agencies and the “asphyxic” alertness of the expert helped to establish the cause of death and formulate a forensic diagnosis and conclusions. However, it is important to understand that cases of death of children from obstructive asphyxia are potentially preventable and require targeted preventive work.