Several reports exist of suicidal posttracheostomy patients who successfully hung themselves with ligatures well above the tracheostomy, where death did not appear to be related to spinal cord injury. Regardless of disagreement on theories, there is widespread agreement that death ultimately occurs from cerebral hypoxia and ischemic neuronal death. Strangling injuries are common, as the necessary weapons are as close as the attacker's own hands. Tracheal intubation is difficult due to edema of the laryngeal structures. In contrast, to date, nearly all reported autoerotic strangulation deaths involve men.
Suicidal hangings are overwhelmingly more common among men.
Varies by underlying cause Patients may present after an assault in which they were manually strangled or garroted by a ligature. Infants present after accidents in which they were caught between crib or fence slats or on objects in their environment. Attempt to determine the height of the drop in near-hanging victims because this may influence management decisions. Assaults can result in strangulation. Risk factors follow other types of assault, with the exception that women are more likely to be victims of strangulation than are men.