摘要:

Solid organ transplant provides lifesaving therapy for infants and children with otherwise terminal diseases, but it is severely limited by donor organ supply. Medical examiners perform a pivotal role in the organ procurement process by determining whether a “heartbeating cadaver” on life support is a medicolegally suitable donor. This descriptive questionnaire study assesses medical examiner practice and behavior regarding organ procurement from child abuse/homicide victims. Obtaining forensic evidence for judicial purposes and releasing organs to children awaiting transplantation are not necessarily conflicting values. Greater than 60% of medical examiners sampled would agree to release organs from abuse/homicide victims in the scenarios presented here if provided with requested information. Further confronting the origins of variable medical examiner practice in this area might result in the availability of additional solid organs for pediatric transplantation.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We present the case of a 33-year-old man who sustained head trauma in a motor vehicle accident. He remained unconscious from the time of the accident until his death 10 days later. He was shown to have severe hemorrhage that destroyed the corpus callosum from genu to splenium in association with a pericallosal artery aneurysm (distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm). In addition, hemorrhages typical of traumatic hemorrhages were found elsewhere in the brain. Clinically, he was considered to have suffered the rupture of a berry pericallosal artery aneurysm, which caused the motor vehicle accident. Review of the angiograms in relation to the forensic neuropathologic examination revealed features indicating that the aneurysm had a traumatic origin. We also discuss traumatic pericallosal artery aneurysms in the wider context of traumatic cerebral artery aneurysms. Features that aid in distinguishing traumatic from spontaneous berry aneurysm are considered. Only 17 cases of traumatic cerebral artery aneurysms have been reported in this site. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case to be reported in the forensic setting.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Presented is the case of a 10-month-old boy who died of general peritonitis due to an isolated perforation of the proximal jejunum. The autopsy findings included multiple bruises and abrasions inflicted at different times, probable bite marks, an old cerebral contusion tear, malnutrition, and an involution of the thymus, this evidence cumulatively suggesting that the decedent was a battered child. The abdomen showed a general peritonitis, and the wall of the jejunum was ruptured on the antimesenteric surface, 2 cm from the duodenojejunal junction (the ligament of Treitz). Microscopically, the ruptured area showed a linear rent in the mucosa and muscularis, and the narrow necrotic lesion was surrounded by normal-appearing bowel tissue. Therefore, it appeared that an external force had compressed the jejunum against the spine, thus rupturing the jejunum near the duodenojejunal junction, a point of fixation.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We report two cases of elderly women who died unexpectedly. In both cases, light- and electron-microscopical examination proved a diagnosis of Fabry's disease. The major pathological changes were myocardial mottling, foamy vacuolation of myocytes and glomerular endothelial cells, and characteristic lamellar inclusions. Neither woman had either a personal or family history of Fabry's disease. Fabry's disease presenting as sudden death is very rare. We present the findings in two cases together with a review of literature particularly relevant to the cardiovascular system.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A case is reported in which a congenital posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia of the Bochdalek type was the cause of sudden unexpected death in a 22-month-old girl. This case shows that not all late-presenting diaphragmatic hernias have a favorable prognosis.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We report a case of sudden unexpected death in an individual with epilepsy. Autopsy revealed a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma of the septum pellucidum, but there were no other lesions of tuberous sclerosis. We discuss sudden death in epilepsy, deaths related to primary brain tumors, the pathology of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, and whether or not such a tumor can exist outside the setting of tuberous sclerosis. We also discuss the implications such findings may have on surviving family members, as well as the important role of the forensic pathologist in such cases.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We report a case of sudden death due to terminal cryptococcal pneumonia in a patient not suspected to have AIDS. The correct diagnosis was found only by microscopic examination and serologic workup, illustrating the hazards faced by forensic pathologists and their assistants working without adequate information about the bodies under study. This case illustrates the need for the highest levels of caution and compliance with universal precautionary measures during autopsy procedures in the present days of the AIDS epidemic.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Fraternity hazing can cause a variety of injuries and deaths. We recently had the opportunity to investigate a heat-related death that occurred during a college fraternity event. The original death investigation did not consider the circumstances of death, environmental conditions, or the subtle autopsy findings related to heat stroke. This case is intended to alert health care professionals that deaths on college campuses may be related to fraternity hazing and may require in-depth investigations. An analysis of the death and a discussion of heatrelated injuries are presented.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Death as a result of anaphylaxis remains rare and is only occasionally related to ingestion of common substances. This article reports a death due to an allergic reaction to ethanol, as well as a review of the reported deaths in the literature attributed to ethanol. This report emphasizes the importance of awareness of such obscure allergies by forensic pathologists, the significance of antemortem testing, and the value of gathering accurate medical information, both antemortem and postmortem.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Self-mutilation is self-infliction of bodily injury without a conscious suicidal intent. Repeated self-inflicted abdominal stab wounds with insertion of foreign bodies into the abdominal cavity is an uncommon form of selfmutilation. We describe such a case in a 35-year-old male inmate who committed suicide by hanging. At autopsy metallic foreign bodies were found in the liver and paraduodenal soft tissue. Because of its high prevalence in the incarcerated population, self-mutilation among prisoners should be given attention. Self-mutilation should also be considered in cases of atypical behavior, psychiatric disorders, intoxication, mental retardation, and sudden death from unexplained causes.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID