A sudden death with lung embolism after inadvertent infusion of zinc oxide shake lotion

A 74-year old woman in postoperative treatment after a colonic surgery died immediately after perfusion of about 1.5 mL of a white emulsion which was believed to contain 1% propofol via cardiac catheter into the right atrium. It was strongly suspected that a syringe with a zinc oxide shake lotion (consisting of 20% ZnO, 20% talc, 25% glycerol and 35% water) which was intended for external treatment had been mistaken for the propofol syringe. During autopsy, an anatomic cause of death could not be found. In order to exclude an intoxication and to determine the significance of the perfusion fluid in this context, toxicological and histological investigations were performed. Propofol and other drugs applied to the patient were found in therapeutic or sub-therapeutic range. However, in comparison to a control case, the zinc concentrations determined by AAS were about 200 times higher in lung tissue, 10 times higher in heart blood and 3–4 times higher in kidney and liver tissue. No increase was seen in venous blood. Histology showed a strong embolism of the lung tissue with birefingent sharp-edged crystals, which were identified as the talcum, and an amorphous component (ZnO). The same embolism was seen to a medium extent also in the brain sections and to a low extent in heart, liver, pancreas and kidney. Pulmonary embolism by talcum and zinc oxide was established as the cause of death which occurred by syringe swap due to insufficient security precautions in the drug administration. The results are discussed in context of pulmonary microembolism cases frequently described for drug addicts after injection of crashed talcum containing tablets.     

实验性兔羊水栓塞肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶的含量变化

目的观察家兔羊水栓塞 (AFE)后肺组织中肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶 (MCT)含量的变化。方法分别于健康怀孕家兔耳缘静脉注入羊水、制造羊水栓塞的动物模型 ;取肺组织进行HE染色和免疫组织化学MCT染色 ,镜下观察AFE兔肺组织中MCT的变化。结果对照组兔肺组织MCT呈弱阳性反应 (平均阳性细胞计数 11 2 5个 ) ,注入羊水组和注入胎盘提取液与羊水混合液组肺组织中MCT呈强阳性反应 (平均阳性细胞计数分别为 3 2 98和 45 5 3个 )。结论在羊水栓塞时兔肺组织MCT含量增加     

肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶的免疫组化染色观察

目的　观察过敏性休克死亡者咽喉、肺、小肠组织肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶 (MCT) ,探讨过敏性休克死亡法医鉴定的形态学依据。方法　交通事故致严重颅脑损伤死亡者 10例 (对照组 )、明确诊断为过敏性休克死亡者 15例(实验A组 )和羊水栓塞死亡者 8例 (实验B组 )的尸体 ,分别取其咽喉部、肺及小肠组织 ,石蜡切片 ,HE染色及用免疫组化超敏SP法进行MCT染色。结果　实验A组的咽喉部组织充血、水肿 ,咽喉部粘膜下层MCT增多 (MCT颗粒计数为 48 2 3 ) ;实验B组的咽喉部粘膜下层MCT增多 (MCT颗粒计数为 42 72 )。肺间质尤其是小支气管壁及小血管壁上MCT增多 (MCT颗粒计数分别为 46 98和 43 5 0 ) ,小肠粘膜层MCT增多 (MCT颗粒计数分别为 48 2 3和 42 72 )。对照组的咽喉部、肺和小肠MCT颗粒计数较少 ,分别为 7 79、 12 94和 2 0 2 5。实验A组与对照组相比 ,两组具有显著性差异 (P <0 0 1) ;实验A、B组相比 ,两组无显著性差异 (P >0 0 1)。结论　过敏性休克及羊水栓塞死亡的尸体 ,其咽喉部组织、肺组织及胃肠道组织MCT增多。     

Medical responsibility in the operating room: the example of an amniotic fluid embolism

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) continues to be one of the most feared complications of pregnancy. A healthy 32-year-old woman died during delivery after a normal 39-week third pregnancy. The family filed a complaint with a criminal court as the causes of death appeared unclear. No risk factor associated with AFE was identified. Clinical presentation was typical, including sudden onset of cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms. Autopsy confirmed the histological diagnosis of amniotic embolism and excluded an iatrogenic cause of death or anesthetic malpractice. This article highlights the value of both antemortem records and histological features in establishing the diagnosis of AFE and demonstrates the fundamental importance of autopsy in an unexpected death related directly or indirectly to a medical procedure.     

肺动脉血栓栓塞猝死23例法医病理学分析

目的分析肺动脉血栓栓塞(pulmonary thromboembolism,PTE)猝死的法医病理学特点,探讨血栓的演变过程及外伤等邻近事件与PTE猝死的因果关系判定方法。方法对四川华西法医学鉴定中心1998—2008年23例PTE猝死案件进行回顾分析。结果PTE猝死合并外伤、手术、制动等危险因素,其中外伤12例,手术21例;院内发生22例,以伤后住院时间1～2周及术后1周多见。PTE中17例为反复性栓子栓塞,余为一次性栓塞。栓子来源于下肢深静脉系统16例,左侧多见。结论明确栓子的来源、外伤及外科手术等邻近事件对于确定PTE猝死是至关重要的。     

Saddle Pulmonary Embolism with Paradoxical Coronary Artery Embolism through a Patent Foramen Ovale

A 35‐year‐old male patient was found in cardiac arrest in his vehicle, with no apparent injuries after a minor motor vehicle collision. The decedent was found to have a saddle pulmonary embolus with a thromboembolus impacted across a patent foramen ovale and a paradoxical embolism in the circumflex coronary artery, as well as significant clotting in the deep veins of both lower extremities. There were no risk factors in his history to explain the deep venous thrombosis; family history suggested the possibility of an unrecognized clotting disorder.     

Time-related changes in cardiac ct images of rabbits died from four kinds of execution

Objective To explore the feasibility and appropriate parameters for estimating postmortem interval (PMI) through time-related CT imaging into dynamically monitoring the cardiac changes of rabbits died from four kinds of execution. Methods The experimental rabbits were executed with four disposals of air embolism, strangulation, drowning and hemorrhagic shock. The dead rabbits were observed of their hearts with CT scanning every 6 hours within 120h from the death moment, having the obtained time-different CT images and mean CT values examined. With the cardiac average CT values of rabbits died from discrepant execution, four relevant regression equations were established against the elapsing time (i.e. PMI). Results The CT images of post-death cardiac tissue of rabbits died from one of four executions did change regularly with the PMI elongating, showing consistent with the autopsy verification. The binomial regressive equations were established between the post-death cardiac average CT value and PMI from four executions, demonstrating statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The postmortem cardiac CT imaging into PMI analysis, plus the relating regression equation, provides a new objective visual quantitative approach and reference for forensic medicine to infer the time of death. © 2021, Editorial Office of Forensic Science and Technology. All rights reserved.     

Fatal Venous Air Embolism Following Intravenous Infusion*

Abstract: Venous air embolism has been reported as a complication of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or accidental trauma. Little is known about the incidence of air embolism after minimal intravenous manipulations such as the insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula. Only when large amounts of air sufficient enough to block the cardiovascular system enter, the patient develops symptoms and signs of severe neurological injury, cardiovascular collapse, or death. The dead body of a 14‐year‐old boy was brought for postmortem examination with allegations of death from negligence during treatment. He was treated for pain in the abdomen in a hospital by attendants in telephonic consultation with a medical practitioner. Following intravenous infusions, the boy died suddenly in respiratory distress. Gross findings indicated the death to be from venous air embolism. Chemical analysis, histopathology, and microbiology ruled out other causes of death. Dilemmas of the case with difficulties in diagnosis are being presented herewith.     

Infant death due to air embolism from peripheral venous infusion

An otherwise healthy male infant was brought to the hospital because the mother suspected superficial infection at the operative site 5 days after an inguinal hernia repair. He was admitted to the pediatric unit overnight to be evaluated by his surgeon the next morning. When a venous infusion of maintenance fluids was started, the patient immediately went into cardio-respiratory arrest and was pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts failed. Subsequently, air collections were found in both venous and arterial circulations, including the splenoportal system. Detailed review of the clinical presentation and course, laboratory results, radiological, and pathological findings, along with a review of pertinent literature provides an explanation for the death by air embolism. Apparent inconsistent findings both radiographically and at autopsy are resolved. The mechanism of distribution of air to both systemic and splenoportal circulation is discussed. We believe this to be only the eighth case reported in English-language literature of infantile death from peripheral venous infusion. In all age groups, we find only six other cases in the English-language literature of gas found concomitantly in both the systemic and portal venous systems.     

Bear attack--A unique fatality in Finland

Fatalities due to animal bites, the vast majority of which are associated with dogs and big cats, are relatively uncommon and rarely described in the literature. Especially rare are fatal bear attacks on humans. We herein present a forensic investigation of a fatal assault, involving numerous bites on a 42-year-old man in Finland by an European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos).