Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department
Published on: January 29, 2011
Asphyxia in a confined space: a case report
Fabio De Giorgio1, Antonio Abbate, Vincenzo Arena
1Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy. fdegiorgio@tiscalinet.it
Abstract:
We describe a death in a hospital wardrobe of a 40-year-old male suffering from HIV infection and lobar pneumonia. On the basis of circumstantial evidence and autopsy findings we conclude that the cause of death was asphyxia in a confined space as a result of several pathomechanical factors. As well as establishing the cause and manner of death, the interpretation of the case involves the evaluation of the professional responsibility of the medical personnel. This report discusses different aspects concerning the cause, mechanism, and manner of death and illustrates various problems encountered in forensic pathology.
Related Concept Videos
Pneumothorax-I
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...