Hypoxic Brain Changes in Victims Who Died Due to Hanging- An Autopsy Based Study

Abstract

Survival after attempted hanging is a rare event. Many patients who suffer from hypoxic brain damage following hanging
die immediately. The study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College,
Thiruvananthapuram during the period January 2013 to June 2014. 50 cases were included in the study. Among the
50 cases, 25 cases were the hanging cases that survived for varying periods before death and 25 cases were from the
non-survived victims of hanging. Macroscopic and microscopic changes in the brain, were compared to find out the
changes resulting from hypoxic insult. The cases were studied in detail and are described below.