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Laryngeal Choking on Food and Acute Ethanol Intoxication in AdultsAn Autopsy Study

NCJ Number
233665
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2011 Pages: 128-131
Author(s)
Slobodan Nikolic, M.D., Ph.D.; Vladimir Zivkovic, M.D., Ph.D.; Dragan Babic, M.D., Ph.D.; Fehim Jukovic, M.D.
Date Published
January 2011
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This retrospective autopsy study included 98 adults who died because of laryngeal choking on a bolus of food: 67 men and 31 women (÷(2)6.843, p less than 0.01), average age 58.61+/- 15.87 years (range 26-92 years).
Abstract
Most of the subjects had poor dentition (÷(2)=34.327, p less than 0.01). Twenty individuals died in medical institutions, and 78 were nonhospitalized individuals. More than a third of the nonhospitalized individuals were under the influence of ethanol at the moment of death: average blood concentration 8.3g/dL (SD=11.0), ranged from 5.0 to 36.0. Nonhospitalized persons were at the moment of event more often under influence of ethanol than the subjects in control group (÷(2)=38.874, p less than 0.01), and at the same time significantly more intoxicated (z=-7.126, p less than 0.01). The study pointed out that poor dentition and impairment of the swallowing reflex, as a consequence of ethanol intoxication in individuals without mental disorders, were the most important risk factors for bolus death. (Published Abstract) Tables, figure, and references

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