Korean J Leg Med.  2018 Nov;42(4):168-171. 10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.4.168.

Accidental Choking Deaths with Octopus minor and Octopus ocellatus

• Lee SJ
• Choi M
• Ha H

• KMID: 2427565
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.4.168

Abstract

In Korea, small octopus (Octopus minor) and webfoot octopus (Octopus ocellatus) are food items and fatal laryngeal choking due to ingestion of live octopus is not uncommon. We recently encountered two autopsy cases of accidental choking on small octopus and webfoot octopus. Case 1 involved a 58-year-old fisherman who ingested two live webfoot octopuses in his fishing boat and collapsed. He was immediately taken to the hospital but died. During autopsy, one of the webfoot octopuses was found between his pharynx and esophagus; it was obstructing the epiglottis and upper esophagus. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.140%. Case 2 involved a 55-year-old man who ingested an intact body part of a small octopus and was found dead in his house. He had a history of cerebral infarction and angina pectoris. During autopsy, an intact body part of the small octopus was found to be lodged in the laryngeal inlet.

Keyword

Larynx; Airway obstruction; Accidents; Octopodiformes

MeSH Terms

Airway Obstruction*
Angina Pectoris
Autopsy
Bays
Blood Alcohol Content
Cerebral Infarction
Eating
Epiglottis
Esophagus
Humans
Korea
Larynx
Middle Aged
Octopodiformes*
Pharynx
Ships
Blood Alcohol Content

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Case 1. (A) An intact webfoot octopus between the pharynx and esophagus obstructing the epiglottis and upper esophagus. (B) Another intact webfoot octopus in the stomach.

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  Fig. 2 Case 2. (A) An intact body part of a small octopus lodged in the laryngeal inlet. (B) The body part of the small octopus measuring 7×4 cm.

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