家兔肺脂肪栓塞后超微病理学观察

目的 研究脂肪栓塞后肺组织的超微结构变化.方法 通过向实验组家兔血管内注射脂肪诱导肺脂肪栓塞制作肺栓塞动物模型,分别于栓塞即刻(0 h)和栓塞后3、8 h及1、2、7、14d处死动物;对照组家兔注射同等剂量的生理盐水,其余处理方法与实验组相同.经HE和苏丹Ⅲ染色证实造模成功后,用透射电镜观察肺组织的超微结构变化.结果 ...     

20例脂肪栓塞死亡的法医学分析

目的分析脂肪栓塞综合征（fatembolismsyndrome,FES）死亡的一般情况以及法医病理学特点,为此类案件的法医病理学鉴定提供参考。方法选取某大学法医学鉴定中心1999—2012年20例FES死亡案件．对其一般情况及法医病理学特点（包括致伤方式、损伤类型、临床表现、病理学改变等方面）进行总结。结果脂肪栓塞主要见于损伤导致的长骨骨折和全身大面积软组织损伤,主要类型为肺脂肪栓塞,偶见合并脑脂肪栓塞。症状多出现在伤后和术后较短时间内,组织病理学检查可在肺小血管内检见大量脂滴并经特殊染色证实。结论FES死亡案例在损伤类型、脂肪栓塞出现症状时间及组织病理学表现等方面均有一定规律和特点。在鉴定中应注意进行特殊染色（油红0染色）处理,寻找FES的直接证据。     

Pediatric homicides related to burn injury: a retrospective review at the medical university of South Carolina

Many burn injuries are mistakenly referred to as "accidents" because they occur suddenly and seem unpredictable and uncontrollable; however, injuries often occur in predictable patterns. We reviewed all pediatric forensic cases referred to the Medical University of South Carolina Forensic Pathology Section over a 28-year period from January 1975 to December 2002. There were 124 cases with 121 fire-related fatalities and three scald fatalities. Ninety of the burn victims were in the 0-5-year age group. The manner of deaths showed 108 accidents and 12 homicides (four undetermined). Eleven of 12 burn-related homicides occurred at the home with all of the victims in the 1-8-year age group. The perpetrator of the home fire homicides was the mother in five cases and the sister in one case (two undetermined). Homicide involved a vehicle fire in one case in which the father caused an explosion with an accelerant. The three scald death perpetrators were the father, mother's boyfriend, and an aunt.This retrospective study and review of the literature may reveal patterns useful for evaluation of manner of death. By recognizing scene characteristics, potential perpetrators, and children at risk, we can better classify pediatric burn-related fatalities.     

Massive systemic fat embolism detected by postmortem imaging and biopsy*

Postmortem computed tomography (pmCT) and pmCT angiography (pmCTA) provide a minimally invasive method to determine the cause of death. Postmortem image-guided biopsy allows for precise sampling of histological specimens. This case study describes the findings of lethal systemic fat embolism (FE) on whole-body unenhanced pmCT, pmCTA, and image-guided biopsy, with autopsy and histopathologic correlation. Unenhanced pmCT revealed a distinct fat level on top of sedimented layers of corpuscular blood particles and serum in the arterial system and pulmonary trunk. Subsequent pmCTA showed reproducible results, and image-guided biopsy confirmed fatal FE. pm CT/pmCTA combined with image-guided biopsy established the cause of death as right heart failure as a result of systemic fatal FE prior to autopsy. All imaging findings were consistent with traditional autopsy and histological specimens. This unique case demonstrates new imaging findings in massive, fatal FE and highlights that postmortem imaging, supplemented by image-guided biopsy, may detect the cause of death prior to traditional autopsy.     

脂肪栓塞中苏丹Ⅲ染色的定量分析

目的探讨苏丹Ⅲ染色如何定量应用于脂肪栓塞的法医学鉴定。方法应用苏丹Ⅲ对11例肺脂肪栓塞猝死的案例和11例其他原因致死的案例进行染色,并结合统计学方法对脂肪栓塞的阳性面积百分率及脂肪栓子数进行定量分析。结果脂肪栓塞致死者肺内苏丹Ⅲ染色阳性面积百分率为（5±1．7）％、脂肪栓子数为（9±2．4）％,均远大于其他原因致死的案例（P〈0．01）。结论苏丹Ⅲ染色法定量分析在脂肪栓塞中的法医学鉴定上结果可靠。     

A Minimally Invasive Technique for the Detection and Analysis of Pulmonary Fat Embolism: A Feasibility Study*

We investigated the feasibility of postmortem percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) for obtaining pulmonary samples adequate for the study of pulmonary fat embolism (PFE). Samples of both lungs were obtained from 26 cadavers via two different methods: (i) PNB and (ii) the double-edged knife technique, the gold standard at our institute. After water storage and Sudan III staining, six forensic pathologists independently examined all samples for the presence and severity of PFE. The results were compared and analyzed in each case regarding the vitality of the PFE and its relationship to the cause of death. The results showed that PFE was almost identically diagnosed and graded on the samples obtained via both methods. The discrepancies between the two techniques did not affect the diagnoses of vitality or cause of death related to PFE. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the PNB sampling method for the diagnosis and interpretation of PFE in the postmortem setting.     

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.     

Retrograde venous cerebral air embolism from disconnected central venous catheter: an experimental model

There are few reported cases of death attributed to retrograde cerebral air embolism from central venous catheter. The pathophysiological mechanism and the necessary conditions are not fully understood, also because of missing experimental data. We performed experimental simulation while working on a possible case of retrograde cerebral air embolism. A hermetic system consisting of two containers connected to each other and to an electric pump by means of rubber hoses was built. In this system, a fluid (water and blood) could continuously flow under conditions similar to those of the common jugular vein. The part of the system representing the jugular vein could be freely positioned at angles between 0 and 90°. A central venous catheter was inserted into this part. After disconnection, the behavior of the air bubbles entering the hose through the tip of the catheter was evaluated at different positions. At angles between 0 and 45°, the air bubbles followed the fluid flow. At angles >45°, the air bubbles showed the tendency to flow upstream; this phenomenon was more evident the more vertically the hose was located. We were able to demonstrate that a retrograde air embolism can be caused by a disconnected catheter and is even more likely if the neck is in a vertical position.     

A death due to perirenal hematoma complicating extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy

Perirenal hematoma is an occasional complication of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) which does not usually require treatment. A 79-year-old woman died 23 h after ESWL. Forensic autopsy was performed to determine whether medical treatment contributed to her death. The cause of death was hemorrhagic shock due to massive hematoma from a ruptured small vein in the perirenal adipose capsule. No injury to other organs was found and the patient had neither coagulation abnormality nor venous disease. Perirenal hematoma can easily be diagnosed with abdominal sonography, if pain or symptoms of anemia develop. Doctors must be aware of the possibilities of severe renal hematomas after ESWL.