Comparative Analysis of Drowning Index: Relevance in Drowning Deaths versus Non-Drowning Asphyxial Deaths

Authors

  • Rajesh Kumar Dhakar P. G. Medical Officer, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, District Hospital, Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh, India.
  • Rajendra Baraw Associate Professor, Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology, GMC, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
  • Mrityunjay Singh Tomar Senior Resident, Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Datia, Madhya Pradesh, India.
  • Saagar Singh Senior Resident, Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4594-5800

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/nxpcdq54

Keywords:

Drowning, drowning index, autopsy, data

Abstract

Drowning remains a significant cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools for forensic investigation. This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the Drowning Index (DI) to ascertain its relevance in distinguishing drowning deaths from non-drowning asphyxial deaths. Drowning deaths present a challenge for forensic pathologists, because the autopsy findings may occur in many non-drowning scenarios. Previous studies have attempted to identify patterns in organ weights that may be specific for drowning. The drowning index has been defined as the weight ratio of the lungs and pleural effusion fluid to the spleen. We compared the lung and pleural effusion weight, spleen weight, and DI from 124 autopsies of asphyxia deaths including both drowning deaths and non-drowning asphyxia deaths such as hanging, strangulation, suffocation and mechanical asphyxia at the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal from January 2021 to August 2022. Findings highlight the potential utility of the DI as a valuable adjunctive tool in forensic investigations, providing insights into its comparative efficacy in differentiating drowning from other modes of asphyxial deaths. Such insights are critical for enhancing accuracy in forensic diagnoses and contributing to advancements in medicolegal death investigations.

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Published

2024-10-09

How to Cite

Comparative Analysis of Drowning Index: Relevance in Drowning Deaths versus Non-Drowning Asphyxial Deaths. (2024). Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 18(4), 119-123. https://doi.org/10.37506/nxpcdq54