Traumatic asphyxia: A rare clinical syndrome

Traumatic asphyxia is a rare clinical syndrome characterised by cyanosis, oedema and petechial haemorrhage of the face, neck and upper chest due to the sudden, transient and severe thoraco-abdominal compression trauma. The huge increase in intra-thoracic pressure caused by the compression constitutes all the symptoms. Although mortality and morbidity due to traumatic asphyxia can happen, most of the patients survive without any sequel. Herein, we report three cases of traumatic asphyxia assessed in our emergency department.