title: Clinico-epidemiological study of near-hanging cases - An investigation from Nepal.
abstract: Hanging is one of the commonest methods of suicide. Epidemiological data of near-hanging patients from Nepal is limited. The present research from Nepal attempts to review the clinico-epidemiological profile of near-hanging patients. A retrospective review of case records was done for the near hanging patients admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal, between August 2012 and August 2014. Details regarding socio-demographic profile, circumstances of hanging, clinical details, and outcome etc. were obtained and examined. During the study period, 10 near hanging patients were admitted to the hospital. The majority of the patients were below 30 years. Mean age of the study group was 28.8 years. The GCS on arrival ranged between 5/15 and 15/15 with the mean GCS being 9.5/15. Hypoxic encephalopathy and cerebral edema were the only noted complications. None of the patient had a cervical spinal injury. All the patients survived the near hanging episode. The mean ICU and hospital stay were 3.9 days and 6.2 days respectively. Prompt resuscitation, active interventions and intensive care support favors a good prognosis. Psychiatric evaluation and support to the patients and their relatives is the key to preventing such attempts in future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atreya
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (A Constituent College of Manipal University), India. Electronic address: tanujkanchan@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Tanuj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanchan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000209:etiology; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012151:Resuscitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hanging; Near-hanging; Nepal; Suicide