A Very Unusual Accidental Mechanical Asphyxia of Choking with a Whole Solea Solea. Issue 2 (6th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Busardò, Francesco Paolo; Mannocchi, Giulio; Pugnetti, Paola; Santurro, Alessandro; Maggiordomo, Aldo; Zaami, Simona
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic sciences. Volume 62:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 511
• Page End: 514
• Publication Date: 2016-12-06
• Subjects: forensic science -- mechanical asphyxia -- fatal case -- fish choking -- clotiapine -- adverse effects; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; 363.2505
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13261
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1198

Abstract

Abstract: The case here reported involves a schizophrenic 19‐year‐old girl under treatment with clotiapine, which was well tolerated except for a moderate dry mouth. The woman ingested a whole sole ( Solea solea ), which caused a very rapid death by choking. A complete autopsy was performed 24 h later, as well as histological and toxicological analysis. At autopsy, the sole was wedged in the esophagus causing a choking ab extrinseco. The fish had a length of 18 cm and a maximum width of 6 cm, weighing 188.7 g. Toxicological analysis detected 0.57 mg/L of clotiapine in blood, which falls within the therapeutic range. The peculiarity of this case is represented by two factors: one is the choking by fish and the second was the adverse affect caused by clotiapine, which induced a condition of dry mouth making the act of swallowing even more difficult, thereby contributing to a very rapid mechanical asphyxia and the death of the young woman.