AN UNUSUAL CASE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY HANGNING: A CASE REPORT

Spoorti Vulavala*, Anitha Aswathanarayana and Vidyasagar C. R.

ABSTRACT

Hanging has become the second most common method of attempted suicide especially among adolescents. Asphyxia, venous occlusion and arterial occlusion are believed to be the major factors contributing to death in non-judicial hanging. Brain perfusion is diminished in all suicide attempts by hanging. It sometimes causes cerebral infarction and results in poor outcome. Near hanging injury or strangulation injury is one of cause of carotid artery dissection (CAD). CAD is rare, occurring spontaneously or secondary to trauma. CAD has been often missed in cases with few symptoms, it is increasing in young people in relation to the recent increase of suicide attempts by hanging. We report an unusual case of unilateral carotid artery (CAD) dissection secondary to complete hanging in a 24-year female patient treated by medical management. Carotid artery dissection is to be considered as one of the possibility in cases of hanging. Survivors often recover fully and poor central nervous system function in the field (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3) may not presage poor outcomes. Therefore, aggressive treatment in hanging victims is warranted regardless of the initial neurologic findings.

Keywords: Hanging, carotid artery dissection, cerebral infarction, Glasgow Coma Scale.