[Aspiration of gastric contents in hanging with typical position of the strangulation cord and free suspension]

Among 193 cases of hanging from the years 1978 to 1991 examined in the institute of Forensic Medicine of the Freie Universität Berlin 8 cases with an aspiration of stomach contents had been reported. Herefrom 3 cases were hanging in a "typical" position (suspension point at the back of the head, free suspension of the hanging body) and did not undergo resuscitation. By free suspension of the hanging body the observed massive aspiration of gastric contents only can be explained by an at least partly open connecting passage between the laryngeal entry and the entrance of the oesophagus. The post mortem flowing in of stomach contents as well as a post mortem gastro-oesophageal peristalsis seem not to be able for explicating the findings. Differences in important parameters (e.g. gastric contents, alcoholization) to the cases of hanging without aspiration were not found. Even by free suspension of the body, running noose and point of suspension in the back of the neck sometimes the connection between larynx and oesophagus may stay open, especially when by emesis a high pressure is produced by the stomach.