摘要:

Multiple exposures to halothane have been shown to produce hepatic injury and subsequent hepatic failure often leading to death. Isoflurane, a related haloalkane, is considered a nonhepatotoxic alternative to halothane and its potential to cause injury has been greeted with skepticism. Described is a 30-year-old woman who developed hepatic failure and died after being exposed twice to isoflurane. Recent exposure to anesthetic agents must be considered when death is caused by massive hepatic necrosis.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Forensic pathologists often state that homosexual homicides are more violent than those with heterosexual victims. Overkill or wounding far beyond that required to cause death is a frequently used descriptor of these deaths. We quantified number and extent of injuries between homosexual and heterosexual homicide victims to determine whether one group suffered more violence than the other. This case-control study involved 67 homosexual homicide victims and 195 age, race, and gender-matched heterosexual (control) homicide victims from the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, between 1982 and 1992. The sexual preference of the victims was determined by police and medical examiner investigation. We compared the percentage of cases with multiple causes of death, mean number of injuries/case, and the mean number of different body sites with injuries/case between the two groups. The percentage of cases with multiple causes was 12% (n = 8) and 5% (n = 10) in the homosexual and heterosexual victims, respectively, with no significant statistical difference detected (Fisher exact test, two-tail, p = 0.088). The mean number offatalsharp (5.4 vs 3.3, p < 0.05), blunt (9.0 vs 6.5, p < 0.05), and total (14.5 vs 6.5, p < 0.001) injuries/case was greater among the homosexual victims than among the heterosexual group. These differences were all statistically significant using the Mann-Whitney rank sum test. The mean number of different body sites with injuries/case was also greater (3.5 vs 2.4, p < 0.001) among the homosexual victims than among the heterosexual group. This difference was statistically significant using the Mann-Whitney rank sum test. Homosexual homicides are more violent than heterosexual homicides when one compares the mean of number injuries (fatalsharp, blunt, and total)/case and the extent of injuries on the body. The mean number of stab wounds wounds/case and percentage of cases with multiple causes of death were also greater among the homosexual group, but the differences were not statistically significant.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A worker died after a witnessed fall from an 8-foot ladder. Autopsy revealed an unexpected penetrating wound to the hard palate. This report details the importance of the forensic autopsy in reevaluating the scene.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Dehydration in developed countries is an uncommon but important mechanism resulting in the death of infants and children. The clinicopathological features of a series of 37 fatal dehydration cases autopsied at the Adelaide Children's Hospital over a 33-year period (1961-1993) are presented. Causative factors for dehydration included gastroenteritis (21 cases), gastroenteritis with high environmental temperature (one case), high environmental temperatures (six cases), neglect/failure to thrive (four cases), mental retardation/chromosomal abnormality (three cases), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (one case), and unsuspected cystic fibrosis (one case). The mean age at death was 11.4 months (range 2 weeks to 6.25 years; median 6 months; 95% confidence interval 6 months to 1 year and 4 months; male-to-female ratio, 19:18). Sixteen of the 22 cases of fatal gastroenteritis (73%) occurred during the fall/winter months (March to August). There were a total of seven aboriginal or part aboriginal children in the group (19%). Children with mental retardation were at higher risk of dehydration, and previously unsuspected cases of child abuse/neglect also presented with lethal dehydration. Vitreous humor electrolyte levels and immunoassay for rotavirus were useful diagnostic adjuncts.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We investigated whether or not elevated whole blood dodecanoic acid concentration was due to a β-oxidation defect in fatty acid metabolism previously reported. We prospectively analyzed blood from 55 consecutive sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases for fatty acid concentrations by gas chromatograph. Three of 55 cases had elevated dodecanoic acid concentrations (≥18.4 mg/L). The three SIDS cases with elevated blood dodecanoic acid were confirmed to have medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency by outside laboratories, indicating that elevated dodecanoic acid is highly specific and sensitive for predicting MCAD deficiency in SIDS victims. Dodecanoic acid was easily detected in routine toxicology for acid and neutral drugs done at autopsy. MCAD deficiency is an autosomal recessive genetic disease, carrying a 25% recurrence risk. Families should be notified that siblings, both presently living and yet to be born, should be screened for this deficiency because MCAD deficiency can be treated, and sudden, unexplained infant deaths of living and subsequent offspring can be prevented.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Esophagopericardial fistula is a rare entity, usually associated with benign esophageal disorders. Clinically they present as an acute illness associated with characteristic clinical findings and have an extremely high mortality rate. A case of a chronic esophagopericardial fistula is presented in an individual who remained asymptomatic and presented as a sudden unexpected death secondary to cardiac tamponade from refluxed gastric contents.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID