An analytical study of asphyxial deaths due to hanging in and around Visakhapatnam

Objective: To analyze and review the incidence of deaths due to hanging at Andhra medical college mortuary, Visakhapatnam city. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical study of all the deaths due to hanging seen in the department of forensic medicine & toxicology, Andhra medical college, Visakhapatnam city during January 2010‐december 2010. Results: A total of 1772 autopsies were done during the period. One hundred and thirty seven (137) cases received by the mortuary were deaths due to hanging. Among them 77 cases were males and 60 cases were females. Majority of victims (59%) were aged between 21 to 40 years. Depression was the main motive for suicidal hanging accounting for 32%. Atypical hangings attributed for 85% of cases. Soft material was the commonest ligature material. Ligature mark was above the level of laryngeal prominence in 117 cases. No fracture of neck skeleton was noted in any of the cases. Marital history, place of hanging, point of suspension, position of tongue and salivary dribbling was also ascertained. Conclusion: This study highlights changing medico-legal scenario of opting hanging as commonest method of suicide and variations in incidence of cases of asphyxial deaths due to hanging.