TY - JOUR T1 - Unintentional strangulation by a cervical collar after attempted suicide by hanging JF - Emergency Medicine Journal JO - Emerg Med J SP - 532 LP - 532 DO - 10.1136/emj.2010.106625 VL - 28 IS - 6 AU - Malcolm Lemyze AU - Aurore Palud AU - Raphael Favory AU - Daniel Mathieu Y1 - 2011/06/01 UR - http://emj.bmj.com/content/28/6/532.abstract N2 - We report the case of a young man who attempted suicide by hanging and whose neurological status deteriorated until the cervical collar, that had been correctly placed by the prehospital team, was removed. We discuss the physiopathological mechanisms leading to death in hanging that is, a blockage of the blood stream to the brain leading to vasogenic and cytotoxic cerebral edema rather than asphyxia or spinal fracture. Our case supports the early removal of neck stabilization devices that can dangerously harm the patient after an attempted suicide by hanging, by increasing intracerebral pressure. ER -