Peripheral arterial embolism of pellets after shotgun injury to the abdomen: A case report.

Dealing with shotgun injury to the abdomen it is important to be aware of the possibility of missile emboli and their potential clinical effects because it usually causes vascular trauma but intravascular missile embolism is relatively rare. Vascular trauma following shotgun injuries may involve laceration of the vessel wall, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula or missile embolism. A pellet embolus should be suspected in all cases where gunshot entry wound is present with or without an exit wound. We recently encountered a case of a close-range shotgun injury to the abdomen with subsequent embolisation of pellets to bifurcation of popliteal artery both lower limbs. However, pellet embolus is asymptomatic, there is still debate over best management because conservative management avoids surgical risks and operative removal prevents the possibility of embolus related life threatening complications. This case shows that it is necessary to do whole body imaging in all cases of shotgun injury whether exit wound present or not.

Profile of fatal road traffic accidents in Rajkot city.

Road traffic injuries are recognized as a major health problem in developing countries accounting for the maximum morbidity and mortality following trauma. The present prospective study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, P.D.U. Medical College and Associated Hospital, Rajkot from January 2008 to December 2008. The objective of this study was to analyze the trend of fatal road traffic accidents and to find out the measures for the prevention of their causative factors. During that period out of 2159 autopsies, 298 cases of Road Traffic Accidents were selected for the present study which accounts 13.8% deaths. Our study shows that 99(33.22%) victims were male of middle age group (21-30 years), male: female ratio was 10.5:1. 114(38.26%) cases were observed during working hours between 12.01 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. 101(33.89%) victims were pedestrians, followed by occupants of heavy four wheelers, two wheelers and three wheelers. Head injury in 161(54.03%) followed by hemorrhagic shock in 51(17.11%) were main causes of death. 141(47.32%) victims were died within one hour after accident.

Pattern of ligature mark in cases of compressed neck in Rajkot region: a prospective study.

Ligature mark may be the only evidence available in cases of asphyxial deaths due to either hanging or strangulation. A through examination of the ligature mark and analysis of the information provided by it is therefore, a must to arrive at the most probable cause of death and differentiate between hanging and the ligature strangulation. A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, P.D.U. Medical College & Hospital, Rajkot from January 2008 to December 2008. During that period out of 2159 cases, 90 cases of hanging and 7 cases of ligature strangulation were selected for the present study. We found that deaths due to hanging constituted 4.17% of the total unnatural deaths subjected to medicolegal autopsy; young adults of the age group 21 to 30 years accounted for the maximum cases 40% and the male: female ratio was 2:1. Chunni (34.44%) was the most common ligature material used. The mark was obliquely placed (100% cases) above thyroid cartilage (80% cases). In all the cases of ligature strangulation the mark was transverse and below the level of thyroid cartilage.