Accidental Choking Deaths with Octopus minor and Octopus ocellatus

Department of Pathology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Division of Forensic Investigation, National Forensic Service Seoul Institute, Seoul, Korea

E-mail: sanchee@korea.kr

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.

Key Words: Larynx; Airway obstruction; Accidents; Octopodiformes