Death due to positional asphyxia related to underlying seizure disorder.

Abstract

Positional asphyxia occurs when a victim fails to remove themself from a compromising position, leading to the restriction of respiration with subsequent death. Many cases involve an inverted body position with or without abnormal kinking of the neck. Victims are typically unable to recover from dangerous situations due to impaired consciousness. Furthermore, positional asphyxia is often accidental, stemming from conditions such as intoxication and varying neurologic disorders. We report a unique case of a death of a college student due to positional asphyxia related to an underlying seizure disorder to highlight the significant dangers that individuals face with seizure disorders, including sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP).