Previously Unreported Complication of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Suture Rupture Resulting in Patient's Death |
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Authors: | Benjamin E Criss DO Nives Zimmermann MD Randall T Butler MD |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Health University Hospital Laboratory Medicine Building, Suite 110, 234 Goodman Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45219‐0533Corresponding author: Benjamin E. Criss, D.O. E‐mail:;2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Health University Hospital Laboratory Medicine Building, Suite 110, 234 Goodman Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45219‐0533 |
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Abstract: | Traditionally, the manner of death in most hospital autopsy cases is natural, in which death is due to the natural course of disease or reasonably anticipated outcomes of medical interventions. Some cases fall into a potential gray zone between natural and accident, including rare or unanticipated outcomes of medical interventions. We present a case of a patient postcoronary artery bypass graft. Autopsy revealed the proximal anastomosis of the aorta‐to‐first‐diagonal‐coronary‐artery‐to‐second‐obtuse‐marginal‐artery graft was detached from the aorta. A broken suture was present at the disconnected anastomosis, with intact knots but was broken along its length. In‐hospital mortality rates of CABG range from 1% to 3%, with several autopsy studies identifying surgical complications as the cause of death in one‐third of perioperative deaths. No publications were found that described suture rupture as directly relating to the cause of death. This case report describes a previously unreported complication of coronary artery bypass grafting. |
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Keywords: | forensic science forensic pathology suture rupture coronary artery bypass graft dehiscence manner of death |
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