Forensic medicine and morphologic aspects of fatal amniotic fluid aspiration

The massive aspiration of amniotic fluid as one cause of a fatal postpartal asphyxia will be demonstrated under the aspect of preliminary criminal law proceedings against physicians because of medical negligence. The pathomorphologically established diagnosis of a fatal aspiration of amniotic fluid supposes extensive and systematic quantitative histological examination of both lungs. The technique of histological cross sections through the entire lung combined with morphometry is a suitable method to exactly record the alterations of bronchi and lung parenchyma by aspiration of amniotic fluid and their complications, such as interstitial emphysema.