Browsing by Author "Etli, Y."

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An Autopsy Series: Lightning-Related Deaths in Van and Hakkari Provinces, Turkey
(Univ West indies Faculty Medical Sciences, 2021) Hekimoglu, Y.; Asirdizer, M.; Demir, U.; Gur, A.; Etli, Y.; Gumus, O.; Kartal, E.
Objective: To report the largest series of lightning-related deaths in Turkey, to review the literature on this subject, and to identify similarities and differences between the autopsy findings in this study and the information available in literature. Methods: In this study, autopsy reports and crime scene investigation data on 11 lightning-related fatalities that occurred in the Van and Hakkari Provinces, Turkey, from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 1699 fatalities, 11 (2.53%) evaluated by medico-legal autopsy in the Van and Hakkari Province in a 5-year period died from lightning strikes. Of these cases, 10 (90.1%) were males and 1 (9.9%) was female (p < 0.05). All cases were in the 11 to 33 years age group. All cases were injured outdoors. Conclusion: We concluded that deaths due to lightning strikes are relatively rare in Turkey, and may be reduced with precautions such as avoiding staying under trees or in the vicinity of high towers, refraining from touching metal objects, avoiding lying on the ground, leaning on walls, and crouching outdoors.
Factors Affecting the Number of Fatalities and Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents in Turkey
(Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, 2024) Aşırdizer, M.; Etli, Y.; Keskin, S.
Reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030 is the main objective of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2020. The current study aimed to investigate the characteristics of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) that occurred between 2013 and 2022 in Turkey and the factors influencing the number of injuries and fatalities in these MVAs, to determine how close this target is. Crude data for the study was taken from the Turkish Statistical Institute's (TUIK) public website. To enable secure comparisons, these crude data were proportionately standardized for this study. Both the number of MVAs per 1,000 registered vehicles and the number of injured and deceased victims per 100,000 people in Turkey decreased after peaking in 2015. Urban regions contributed to 76.2% of the MVAs which resulted in injuries and fatalities. Males accounted for 76.9% of all fatalities, 69.4% of all injured victims, 97.7% of dead drivers, and 92.5% of injured drivers. While most injuries and deaths occurred between the ages of 25 and 64, the highest risk of death was observed among individuals aged 65 and older in comparison with the 100,000 people. Most of the fatalities and injuries in MVAs happened in August, during weekends and daylight hours. Twilight MVAs had the highest fatality risk. Automobile MVAs were the most common cause of all MVAs, injuries, and deaths. Drivers were accountable for 88.5% of the faults that caused MVAs. In Turkey, the frequency of MVAs, together with the number of injuries and fatalities sustained, continues to be comparatively high. Therefore, a road safety committee should be established, and an emergency action plan for safe road vehicle traffic in Turkey should be designed. © 2024, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.
Hypothermia Deaths in Van Province, Turkey
(Univ West indies Faculty Medical Sciences, 2021) Hekimoglu, Y.; Etli, Y.; Gumus, O.; Kartal, E.; Demir, U.; Asirdizer, M.
Objective: To evaluate autopsy findings in hypothermia-related deaths in Van Province, Turkey, a city near the Turkey-Iran border. Methods: Autopsy reports on 43 hypothermia fatalities were retrospectively reviewed. Data regarding age, gender, nationality of the cases, seasonality of the deaths, crime scene findings, autopsy findings, manner of deaths, risk factors for hypothermia, other traumatic lesions, and toxicology were obtained from autopsy records and scene investigation records. Results: There were 36 males and 7 females. The mean age was 20.5 years. More than half of the cases died or were found dead in the spring months. All but one of the cases was found dead outdoors. There were common red-coloured livor mortis in 33 cases (76.7%), antemortem traumas in 16 cases (37.2%), cold erythema in 26 cases (60.5%), myxedema in 1 case, bloody discolouration in the synovial fluid in 11 (84.6%) cases, and Wischnewski spots in 32 cases (74.4%). Conclusion: The study showed that illegal refugees are an important social problem in Turkey. Hypothermia should be considered as a cause of death for refugees when they are found, especially in the cold provinces. In the diagnosis of hypothermia, bloody discolouration of the synovial fluid is confirmed to be a valuable finding. Wischnewski spots remain valuable for positive identification.