NCJ Number
232573
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 1251-1258
Date Published
September 2010
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study is a retrospective analysis of 14 cases with food bolus upper airway obstruction as the defined cause of death where both postmortem computed tomography and autopsy were performed.
Abstract
Three groups were defined by the images i.e., Type 1: foreign body situated between the oral cavity and oropharynx, while the epiglottis sits in normal position, Type 2: foreign body situated in the oropharynx just above the epiglottis pushing it posteriorly and obstructing the airway, and Type 3: foreign body obstructing the laryngeal inlet while pushing the epiglottis anteriorly. At the time of autopsy, foreign bodies were detected by pathologists, occasionally in a different position, presumably being dislodged in the act of organ removal especially for the "Type 1" pattern. CT imaging provides accurate interrogation of upper airway bolus obstruction prior to autopsy. (Published Abstract)