ABSTRACT
Extrinsic causes of asphyxia include choking, toxic gases, exhaust gas (such as carbon monoxide), electric shock, drugs, anesthesia, crushing injuries of the chest, compression of the chest, injury to respiratory nerves, and decrease in environmental oxygen. Intrinsic causes include hemorrhage, foreign bodies in the throat, swelling of air passages, obstructive diseases of air passages, ruptured aneurysm, pulmonary edema, cardiac insufficiency, and obstructive tumors. Other common causes of asphyxia are paralysis of the respiratory center or muscles, pneumothorax, narcotic drugs, electrocution, and child abuse.
