Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2019

A Study on the Patterns of Injury in Drowning Cases Brought for Medico–legal Autopsy

Dr. Samuel Tokbi, Dr. Biswadeep Paul

Abstract :

Drowning is a form of asphyxia due to aspiration of fluid into air passages caused by submersion in water or other fluid. Drowning is classified as Wet, Typical, Primary drowning, Dry drowning, Secondary drowning and Immersion syndrome [1] or Fresh water and Sea water drowning [2] Death may occur due to cereal hypoxia and circulatory failure in fresh water drowning, hyperkalaemia and hypervolaemia leading to ventricular fiillation in sea water drowning, vagal inhibition in dry drowning etc. [3] However fatal injuries may also be sustained at the time of drowning depending on the place of drowning, struggle to survive, medium of drowning, circumstances preceding fall in the fluid medium etc and accordingly various patterns of injuries may be encountered which may consequently lead to death. [2,4]. With a view to investigate these masked fatal injuries a study was conducted in the Deptt. of Forensic Medicine, Gauhati Medical College for a period of 1 year. In our study we found that 125 cases were deaths due to drowning and out of 81 selected cases, in 21 cases (25.93%), injuries were detected. In the 30–39 age group there were highest 8(9.87%) injury cases. Out of the 21 injury cases, most occurred in running water and were typical drowning. Head injuries were most common. A meticulous procedure should be undertaken to unearth these associated injuries which amplify the burden of fatalities and blur the actual cause of death.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

A STUDY ON THE PATTERNS OF INJURY IN DROWNING CASES BROUGHT FOR MEDICO-LEGAL AUTOPSY, Dr.Samuel Tokbi, Dr.Biswadeep Paul INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH : Volume-8 | Issue-6 | June-2019

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