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Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 18(3):p 479-482, July-Sep 2025. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.18325.8
Case Report
The Silent Choke: A Fatal Case of Cafe Coronary Unveiled
Mahender Singh, Yashasvee null, Sarita Sharma, Viney Kumar Sharma
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 18(3):p 479-482, July-Sep 2025. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.18325.8
How Cite This Article:
Yashasvee, Singh M, Sharma S, et al. The Silent Choke: A Fatal Case of Cafe Coronary Unveiled. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2025;18(3):189-92.Timeline
Received : June 09, 2025
Accepted : July 31, 2025
Published : September 30, 2025
Abstract
Imagine someone enjoying a meal, perhaps a bit too much to drink, when suddenly they go silent, stand up, and then inexplicably collapse. This is the classic presentation of a cafe coronary, a condition where a piece of food completely obstructs the airway by lodging in the laryngopharynx and larynx. Unlike typical choking, there are often no dramatic struggles. The person might turn blue, cough violently for a moment, and then die relatively quietly. While it can be mistaken for a sudden heart attack, the true cause of death is generally attributed to reflex vagal inhibition of the heart, not a cardiac event. Autopsy often reveals a sizable, poorly masticated food bolus lodged in the larynx. A crucial detail is the absence of typical choking signs, which can be attributed to the deadening effect of high blood alcohol content on the gag reflex.
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Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest
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Cite this article
Yashasvee, Singh M, Sharma S, et al. The Silent Choke: A Fatal Case of Cafe Coronary Unveiled. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2025;18(3):189-92.
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| June 09, 2025 | July 31, 2025 | September 30, 2025 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.18325.8
Keywords
Cafe coronaryChokingReflex vagal inhibitionSearch for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | June 09, 2025 |
| Accepted | July 31, 2025 |
| Published | September 30, 2025 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
