• Shalini Nair, Joe Jacob, Sanjith Aaron, Maya Thomas, Mathew Joseph, and Mathew Alexander.
• Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
• Indian J Med Sci. 2009 Feb 1;63(2):53-7.

ObjectiveTo assess the incidence of post-hanging pulmonary distress in cases of attempted suicidal hanging and predictors of outcome among these patients.DesignFive-year retrospective analysis.SettingTertiary care center in south India.PatientsA total of 335 patients who attempted suicidal hanging, aged above 16 years, were admitted during this period. Thirty-eight of them with pulmonary distress established clinically and with radiological evidence of pulmonary injury post hanging met the inclusion criteria.MeasurementsData from ICU records of 5 years, X-rays and laboratory investigations were reviewed. In patients identified to have post-hanging pulmonary distress, the neurological status, chest x-rays, arterial blood gas values and outcome data were collected and analyzed.ResultsEleven percent (n = 38) of the 335 patients admitted following attempted suicidal hanging were diagnosed to have post-hanging pulmonary distress. The overall mortality among post-hanging patients was 5%, which increased to 34.2% (n = 13) in the presence of pulmonary distress (P < or = 0.001). Among the prognostic factors evaluated, a PaO 2 / FiO 2 (P/F) ratio of < 100 at admission predicted a poor outcome (P < or = 0.001).ConclusionPost-hanging pulmonary distress is a relatively common complication of hanging and is associated with increased mortality. P/F ratio from arterial blood gas at admission was the only significant predictor of outcome in this group of patients.

18 keywords...

hide…