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Cardiac Inhibitory Reflex as a Cause/Mechanism of Death |
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| Authors: | Jose M Suárez‐Peñaranda MD PhD Cristina Cordeiro MD Marisol Rodríguez‐Calvo MD PhD Duarte N Vieira MD PhD Jose Ignacio Muñoz‐Barús MD PhD |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Pathology and Forensic Science, University of Santiago de Compostela, , Santiago de Compostela, Spain;2. National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Portugal, Centre Branch, , Coimbra, Portugal;3. Centre of Forensic Sciences (CENCIFOR), University of Coimbra, , Coimbra, Portugal;4. Institute of Forensic Science, University of Santiago de Compostela, Rúa San Francisco s/n, , 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain |
| Abstract: | The role of cardiac inhibitory reflex as a potential cause of death is still a matter of debate. This study reports two cases of death under unusual circumstances. Case 1 corresponds to a man found hanging where the role of ligature compression of the carotid sinus became relevant as a possible explanation of death. In Case 2, the participation of a vasovagal syncope was clearly triggered by the laryngoscopic procedure. It is proposed that cardiac inhibitory reflex should be taken into account in those cases of unexpected death, which fulfills the following three criteria: (i) The investigation of the circumstances of the death is consistent with a hypothesis of cardiac arrest. (ii) A typical triggering peripheral stimulus is present. (iii) The performance of a complete autopsy cannot rule out the participation of a cardiac inhibitory reflex in the cause of death. |
| Keywords: | cardiac inhibitory arrest carotid sinus stimulation forensic science vasovagal syncope |