Evaluation of Cases with Toxicological Findings in Forensic Autopsies Conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Between 2017-2022

Abstract

Objective: Poisoning is a public health problem that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this study, it is aimed to determine the toxic factors that lead to death at different times and in different geographical regions and to reduce fatal poisoning cases by examining the characteristics of forensic cases.

Method: Demographic characteristics of 55 cases related to poisoning from a total of 207 forensic autopsies performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine of Sivas Cumhuriyet University between 2017-2012 were retrospectively examined. Descriptive statistical analysis of the data was performed with the SPSS v.27 program using the Pearson and chi-square test.

Results: It was determined that 81.8% of the cases were male, the youngest was two years old and the oldest was 84 years old, and the average age was 41.4. It was seen that the 31-40 age group was in first place with 25.5%. Ethyl alcohol was in first place with 29.6% in terms of types of poisoning, that poisonings were most common in the spring season (36.4%), and that hanging (18.2%) and carbon monoxide (14.5%) poisoning were in the first two places in the distribution made according to the causes of death.

Conclusion: In this study, alcohol, therapeutic drugs, and carbon monoxide were the top three contributing factors in the analysis of fatal poisoning cases. To prevent toxic deaths, education and activities aimed at preventing unintentional alcohol and drug use should be encouraged, and educational programs should be implemented regarding the conditions that cause carbon monoxide poisoning.