DEATHS FROM HANGING IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI-ARABIA

An analysis of cases of hanging in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabi a over a period of five years is presented. Of 61 victims investigated there was a high incidence of suicidal hanging among expatriate males of lower socio-economic classes especially Asians, and in particular, Indians. Two distinct patterns of suicidal hanging were observed in t his series. The first used a seemingly popular plastic clothes line, w ith complete body suspension. This produced a narrow ligature mark, co mmonly deep and high up in the neck, often with internal cervical inju ries. In the second, soft cotton cloth was used with partial suspensio n of the body, which produced a broad, low, ill-defined Ligature mark with facial congestion and petechial haemorrhages, but minimal or abse nt deep neck injuries. Classical external injuries of asphyxial death (congestion of the face and petechial haemorrhages) were more common i n cases of partial suspension than in complete suspension. While the m echanism of death in the majority of cases of partial suspension was a pparently due to airways or vascular obstruction, death in cases of co mplete suspension appeared to result from, in addition to obstruction (airways or vascular), vagal stimulation or carotid sinus pressure, or a combination of these. No fracture of the hyoid bone, thyroid cartil age or cervical vertebrae was detected in any of the victims in this s eries.