Brief DescriptionNon-fatal strangulation is a high-risk, often underrecognized form of violence that may result in significant anoxic brain injury without visible external findings. This presentation introduces the SHASTA (Strangulation Hypoxia Anoxia Symptom TBI Assessment) protocol, a trauma-informed approach to identifying and documenting subtle neurologic symptoms often missed in traditional assessments. Attendees will gain practical skills to improve detection, documentation, and clinical decision-making in patients presenting after
strangulation.Learning Objectives:- Describe the pathophysiology of hypoxia and anoxia in non-fatal strangulation and the limitations of relying on loss of consciousness as an indicator of injury.
- Identify key components of the SHASTA protocol, including assessment strategies and critical symptoms associated with anoxic brain injury.
- Apply the SHASTA tool to cases examples to improve recognition, documentation, and referral for patients at risk of traumatic brain injury following strangulation.
