Asphyxia due to Blood Aspiration Caused by Maxillofacial Injury With Alcohol Consumption: A Forensic Autopsy Case Report and Feedback From a Forensic Medicine Perspective

ABSTRACT Background Airway management and hemorrhage control are important with in treatment of oro‐nasal bleeding from maxillofacial injuries. Case Presentation We report an autopsy case of an individual who was found dead in his home and died of asphyxia due to blood aspiration caused by maxillofacial injury. Evidence of crush injury of the nose, Le Fort I fracture, C7 spinal injuries, and blood aspiration in the airways was recorded. Alcohol was detected in the blood. Conclusion Maxillofacial injury can cause “blood to flow into the airways” and may be associated with “cervical spine injury”; these more often occur under the influence of alcohol.