An autopsy case of neurogenic pulmonary edema due to suicide by hanging]

A 43-year-old man died of pulmonary edema after hanging himself. His cardiac function and renal function were normal. No aspiration, trauma, or overhydration was present, and high doses of catecholamine had not been administered. Autopsy findings revealed hypoxic brain damage, cerebral edema and pyknosis of nerve cells in the medulla oblongata. These findings resulted in a diagnosis of neurogenic pulmonary edema. To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of neurogenic pulmonary edema due to airway obstruction.