Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Positional asphyxia: reflection on 2 cases.

Maura Belviso1, Antonio De Donno, Leonardo Vitale

  • 1Forensic Pathology and Criminalistic Technique, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|September 10, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Development of a new semi-quantitative method of palatal rugae analysis to personal identification: a pilot study and protocol proposal.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2026
Same author

Pediatric fatal head and neck injury in a 9-year medical examiner case series: autopsy findings and cervical spine dissection techniques.

International journal of legal medicine·2026
Same author

A novel forensic protocol for age reversal facial approximation from elderly skulls using computed tomography scans, CAD techniques and anthropometric data.

Forensic science international·2026
Same author

Combining medial clavicular epiphysis ossification and clavicle length on conventional radiography for forensic age estimation: A multivariable regression approach.

Journal of forensic sciences·2026
Same author

Diagnostic pitfalls and forensic implications of hyperactive delirium with severe agitation: an Italian case series.

Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2026
Same author

Sudden cardiac death in the young: single-center study of Bari autopsy cases.

Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine·2025
Same journal

Fatal Case of Severe Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in a Neonate Following Out-of-Hospital Water Birth: A Case Report With Brief Review of Literature.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

A Retrospective, Forensic, and Epidemiological Analysis of Reported Rabies-Related Deaths in Şanlıurfa Province, 2012-2023.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

Fatal Sigmoidorectal Intussusception Associated With a Colonic Vascular Lesion Showing AVM-Like Features: A Rare Case.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Suicide by Hanging: A Retrospective Forensic Assessment Based on Autopsies in Türkiye.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

Cardiac Rupture Complicating Acute and Subacute Myocardial Infarction at Forensic Autopsy.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
Same journal

Heart Disease in Arrest-Related Death.

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology·2026
See all related articles

Positional asphyxia occurs when body positions impede breathing, leading to death. Diagnosis relies on position, immobility, and excluding other causes, posing challenges for legal medicine specialists.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Legal Medicine

Background:

  • Positional asphyxia is a fatal condition caused by specific body positions that mechanically restrict pulmonary ventilation.
  • It can occur in diverse scenarios, including occupational incidents, accidents, torture, and kidnapping, often requiring legal medicine expertise.

Observation:

  • Diagnosing positional asphyxia is challenging due to non-specific post-mortem findings.
  • Distinguishing it from asphyxia due to chest compression is difficult, hinging on whether the position was voluntary or compelled.

Findings:

  • The diagnosis of positional asphyxia is established by three key criteria: the position must obstruct gas exchange, the individual must be unable to change position, and other causes of death must be ruled out.
  • Two illustrative cases from the Medico-Legal Sector of Bari University Hospital highlight the physiopathologic and diagnostic aspects.

Related Experiment Videos

Implications:

  • Understanding positional asphyxia is crucial for accurate forensic investigations and legal determinations in cases of unexplained death.
  • This condition underscores the importance of considering mechanical ventilation impairment due to body positioning in forensic pathology.
  • Further research into specific diagnostic markers could aid in differentiating positional asphyxia from other forms of traumatic asphyxia.