Anoxic Brain Injury: A Subtle and Often Overlooked Finding in Non-Fatal Intimate Partner Strangulation

Anoxic Brain Injury: A Subtle and Often Overlooked Finding in Non-Fatal Intimate Partner Strangulation

Authors: Sean Dugan, Michelle Patch, Taman Hoang, Jocelyn C Anderson

Journal: Journal of Emergency Medicine, June 2024

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that 49% of patients who experienced amnesia did not recall LOC, suggesting that LOC alone is an imperfect marker for detecting anoxia in NF-IPS cases. Healthcare providers should inquire about other symptoms of brain hypoxia, such as amnesia, in addition to LOC, to more effectively diagnose anoxic brain injury. The SHASTA tool provides a useful framework for assessing these symptoms in clinical settings.

Objective: The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the prevalence of anoxic brain injury symptoms, including amnesia and loss of consciousness, in patients reporting NF-IPS, using a standardized clinical assessment tool.

Methods: A total of 191 patients, representing 267 separate strangulation incidents, were assessed using the Strangulation Hypoxia Anoxia Symptom TBI Assessment (SHASTA) tool by the Shasta Community Forensic Care Team. The sample consisted of 98% female patients aged 18-68 years. The analysis focused on the presence of hypoxia, anoxia symptoms, amnesia, and LOC. Data collection followed the STROBE checklist for observational studies.

Results:

  • Amnesia was reported in 145 of the 267 strangulation incidents (54.3%).
  • Of these 145 cases, 74 (51.0%) patients reported experiencing LOC, while 71 (49.0%) did not recall losing consciousness.
Dugan, S., Patch, M., Hoang, T. and Anderson, J.C., 2024. Anoxic Brain Injury: A Subtle and Often Overlooked Finding in Non-Fatal Intimate Partner Strangulation. The Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Back to blog