Fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage during sexual anal self-stimulation in a female: a case report

Sudden death after sexual activity is a well-known entity, but it is rare in females. Herein we present a case of fatal, massive subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured berry-shaped aneurysm, during sexual anal self-stimulation. A 39-year-old woman was found dead on a couch, with the wooden handle of a spring twirl whisk inserted inside her anus and rectum as a dildo-like object. External examination was unremarkable with no signs of injuries. Intracranial examination showed a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage, up to 6 mm in thickness, especially around the brainstem and the inferior side of the brain. After removing the blood clots, the saccular aneurysm was found at the site of the bifurcation of the left internal carotid. In this case study, we underline the utility of forensic autopsy, as well as death scene investigation, in reconstructing the mechanism of death, as well as the dynamics of the event.     

蛛网膜下腔出血的法医学鉴定

蛛网膜下腔出血（subarachnoid hemorrhage,SAH）按其发生原因可分为外伤性SAH与病理性SAH,其中外伤性SAH是头部外伤的常见表现形式,同时也往往是法医学鉴定的难点。本文根据法医学实际鉴定经验并参考国内外相关的文献资料,阐述了SAH的法医学鉴定要点、检查要点和死亡机制,并尝试将外伤性SAH分为脑损伤伴发性、脑底血管破裂性及局灶性SAH 3种类型以便于理解。     

Fatal hemorrhage from an isolated scalp injury

By means of 3 casuistics it is illustrated, that fatal bleeding from a single scalp injury can occur under special preconditions. Beside signs of massive loss of blood at the place of discovery and on the corpse, particularly chronic and acute alcohol intoxication with presumably impaired coagulation and prospective anemic history play a dominant role in these courses.     

Fatal meningitis and encephalitis due to Bartonella henselae bacteria

Bacterial infection due to Bartonella henselae commonly develops in children and young adults following cat/dog contacts and/or cat/dog scratches. Regional lymphadenopathy is its most common clinical expression. However, encephalitis and Parinaud's syndrome (oculoglandular syndrome) have also been reported as has systemic illness. A review of the international literature in all languages revealed no fatal complications in immunocompetent hosts. A four-year-old white child with no underlying illness began to have seizure-like activity. She was taken to a local hospital and subsequently transferred to a medical center. The child was treated aggressively for seizures and fever of unknown origin. However, her condition rapidly declined and she died without a specific diagnosis. At autopsy there was marked cerebral edema with no gross evidence of acute meningitis. Microscopic exams revealed multiple granulomatous lesions as well as a meningitis and encephalitis. A variety of cultures and stains were negative for acid fast and fungal organisms. Warthin-Starry stains of involved tissue including brain and liver revealed pleomorphic rod shaped bacilli consistent with Barronella henselae. Analysis of brain tissue with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot for the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was definitive for DNA of Bartonella henselae bacteria.     

Fatal renal hemorrhage after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Renal hematoma is one of the most severe complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). ESWL is used in the noninvasive treatment of urinary calculosis. The shock waves can lead to capillary damage, renal parenchymal or subcapsular hemorrhage. We present a case with fatal complication and the result of the medico-legal evaluation. A 71-year-old woman was treated by ESWL, renal hematoma was detected during the clinical observation, and the patient died. The death occurred despite close clinical observation as a consequence of a rare complication of ESWL. The mechanism of death was hemorrhagic hypovolemic shock due to renal hemorrhage complications due to ESWL for treatment of renal calculi. This therapeutic complication is a known complication of appropriate treatment.     

127例蛛网膜下腔出血案例的法医学研究

目的探讨蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)对保险公司的直接请求权，从而缓解了患者在请求赔偿方面的特点及法医学鉴定要点。方法通过对华西医科大学法医鉴定中心1983—2001年尸检检出的127例各种原因所致的SAH案例进行回顾性分析。结果各类SAH案例，男性明显多于女性，男女性别比为3：1，高峰年龄为21～40岁。按SAH常见特征可分为外伤性、脑血管畸形、动脉瘤、脑血管粥样硬化、中毒、伴发于心脏疾患、其他等八类。其中，外伤性与脑血管畸形最为多见。外伤性SAH与脑血管畸形出血可见于任何年龄，多见于11～50岁，脑血管粥样硬化出血仅见于50岁以上者，动脉瘤破裂出血者并不多见，见于11～50岁。以SAH为死亡原因者，32例，占25％，多见于脑血管畸形与动脉瘤破裂，出血部位多见于脑底及小脑天幕以下。大多数SAH，出血部位多见于大脑表面，较为局限，出血量较少，非死亡的主要原因。结论多数SAH并非导致死亡的主要原因，SAH死亡者，其死亡性质多属自然死亡。     

127例蛛网膜下腔出血案例的法医学研究

目的探讨蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)对保险公司的直接请求权,从而缓解了患者在请求赔偿方面的特点及法医学鉴定要点。方法通过对华西医科大学法医鉴定中心1983-2001年尸检检出的127例各种原因所致的SAH案例进行回顾性分析。结果各类SAH案例,男性明显多于女性,男女性别比为3:1,高峰年龄为21~40岁。按SAH常见特征可分为外伤性、脑血管畸形、动脉瘤、脑血管粥样硬化、中毒、伴发于心脏疾患、其他等八类。其中,外伤性与脑血管畸形最为多见。外伤性SAH与脑血管畸形出血可见于任何年龄,多见于11~50岁,脑血管粥样硬化出血仅见于50岁以上者,动脉瘤破裂出血者并不多见,见于11~50岁。以SAH为死亡原因者,32例,占25%,多见于脑血管畸形与动脉瘤破裂,出血部位多见于脑底及小脑天幕以下。大多数SAH,出血部位多见于大脑表面,较为局限,出血量较少,非死亡的主要原因。结论多数SAH并非导致死亡的主要原因,SAH死亡者,其死亡性质多属自然死亡。     

Fatal retropleural hematoma complicating internal jugular vein catheterization. A case report

This report describes a case of fatal retropleural hematoma complicating percutaneous insertion of a central vein catheter. The patient was a 55-year-old female undergoing surgery for severe rheumatic mitral valve disease. Factors responsible for this catastrophic incident are the anticoagulation of the patient, the edematous state of the soft tissues, and the multiple punctures of the wall of the jugular vein.     

Fatal hemorrhage from a periumbilical wound: Stabbing or hemorrhage from a caput medusae?

Varices are the main clinical manifestation of portal hypertension, and their bleeding is the predominant cause of mortality from this condition. Periumbilical varices are known as “caput medusae.” Reports of their bleeding are rare, with only three fatal cases described in the literature. The antemortem diagnosis is relatively simple, while the postmortem diagnosis is more complex. This paper is the first report of fatal hemorrhage from a caput medusae for which the diagnosis was made postmortem, thanks to a complete diagnostic process including scene and circumstances, medical history, and autopsy with detailed histology. The circumstantial analysis showed the presence of a large amount of blood at the scene, blood which originated from a small abdominal wound; an analysis of the subject's clinical data reported that he was affected by portal hypertension. The autopsy revealed some dilated and convoluted veins in the subcutaneous tissue of the umbilical region; a fistula between these veins and the abdominal wound was detected. The histological study confirmed the presence of periumbilical varices, one of them ruptured and connected with the overlying skin. The cause of death was attributed to a massive hemorrhage generated by a periumbilical varix in a patient affected by portal hypertension.     

Fatal intraoperative hemorrhage during spinal fusion surgery for osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an uncommon inherited systemic disorder of the connective tissues characterized primarily by varying degrees of bony fragility. Consequently, individuals affected by this condition frequently suffer severe skeletal injuries from otherwise innocuous traumatic events. This syndrome has other associated abnormalities, including hydrocephalus and brain stem compression on the basis of cranial developmental defects (platybasia), cardiac and vascular problems, respiratory disease from spinal deformities, vascular fragility, a bleeding disorder caused by an apparent platelet function abnormality, and anesthesia-related hyperpyrexia. A case is presented here of a young girl with advanced OI in whom intraoperative death occurred as a consequence of inadvertent rib fractures, with subsequent uncontrollable hemorrhage. OI may also potentially be mistaken for child abuse by an inexperienced examiner.     

Fatal high cervical spinal cord injury in an automobile accident complicating os odontoideum

We report a case where spinal instability from incomplete fusion of the dens of C2 (os odontoideum) allowed anterior displacement of the skull and first cervical vertebra following right frontal impact against the A pillar in an automobile accident. Resultant crushing and laceration of the spinal cord occurred at the level of C1 and C2. Without either radiographic investigation or detailed examination of the spine, the fatal injury might have been overlooked and death attributed to acute alcoholic poisoning because the blood alcohol level was .613%.     

Fatal lung hemorrhage in complex pulmonary angiodysplasia in a case of mongolism

A case of sudden and unexpected death of a boy with Down-Syndrome is reported. Death was due to acute excessive haemorrhage from the lungs. There were no cardiac anomalies. Histology revealed in addition to mediahyperplasia, intimaproliferation and occlusions, multiple foci of anomalous ectatic blood vessels predominantly in the lungs, some of which ruptured and bled into adjacent airways. Evidence of previous less severe bleeding episodes was present. Further investigation showed a familial occurrence of the blood vessel anomaly.     

Motor-vehicle collision-related death due to delayed-onset subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with anticoagulant therapy

Delayed deaths following injury are not rare. Various mechanisms may be responsible for such deaths, including pulmonary thromboembolism, fat embolism, infection, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and delayed hemorrhage. In the present case, we describe a death due to delayed subarachnoid hemorrhage following a motor vehicle collision, wherein the hemorrhage occurred ten days after the incident, while the patient remained hospitalized for skeletal trauma. At no time prior to the hemorrhage did the victim show any symptoms of brain injury. Autopsy revealed basilar subarachnoid hemorrhage arising from a cerebral cortical contusion. There was no evidence of aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation. A significant underlying contributing factor in the delayed hemorrhage was the victim's chronic anticoagulant therapy, which was required because of a mechanical heart valve.     

Fatal hemorrhage from ruptured varicose veins of the sigmoid colon in liver cirrhosis

A 41-year-old woman died within a few hours one morning due to massive rectal hemorrhage. At autopsy, complete liver cirrhosis, signs of portal hypertension, liquid blood in the entire colon, and high-grade anemia were detected. The source of bleeding was a ruptured submucosal varix in the sigmoid colon, which was almost invisible even microscopically and had been caused by portal hypertension. In the vicinity, and somewhat further away from the rupture site, numerous, greatly dilated veins with wall sclerosis and intimal thickening, as well as paravascular iron deposits, were found as indications that severe hemorrhages had already occurred earlier. To detect the source of bleeding, meticulous inspection and dissection with hematoxylin and eosin, elastica van Gieson, and iron staining, were necessary.     

Traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Report of six cases and review of the literature

Basal subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of normal extra- and intracranial arteries, in association with minor trauma to the face and neck and alcohol intoxication, has been well described but often goes unrecognized at autopsy. This results in the incorrect classification of the manner of death as natural. Six cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage due to mild-to-moderate blows to the head or neck are presented. All were men in the age range 28-61 years (mean, 38.8 years). Four had blood alcohol levels of 0.09-0.28 g % at autopsy, and five of six were comatose or dead within 30 min of the initiating trauma. Traumatic ruptures of otherwise normal extra- and intracranial arteries were identified in four cases. The site of rupture was not found in one case, and the final case had rupture of a fibrotic intracranial vertebral artery. Multiple sites of incomplete and complete rupture were found in four cases. Postmortem angiography was used in one case to demonstrate the site of rupture prior to removal of the brain. Postmortem angiography and careful gross and histologic examination of extra- and intracranial cerebral arteries is recommended in all cases of basal subarachnoid hemorrhage where minor trauma to the head or neck has occurred prior to collapse or death, especially if the decedent was intoxicated at the time of the trauma.