Amniotic Fluid Embolism.

Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) is a potentially fatal rare obstetric complication. In this paper, the death of a 30-year old apparently healthy parturient due to AFE is reported. She underwent Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) under spinal anaesthesia but after about half an hour of the operative procedure, she developed features of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and shock, and died within five hours of the onset of the symptoms. The sudden death of an apparently healthy parturient may lead to medical negligence claims by the relatives. In developing countries, it still remains a post-mortem diagnosis and in the present case, histopathological examination findings helped in coming to a conclusive opinion of AFE.

Pattern of road traffic accidents in Imphal.

In recent years the incidence of Road Traffic Accidents is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world posing itself as a major epidemiological as well as medico-legal problem. In a study of 205 cases of Road Traffic Accidents brought to the mortuary of Regional Institute of Medical sciences, Imphal during September 2007 to August 2009, it was noted that males (75.13 %) outnumbered the females (24.87%). Majority of the victims were in the age group of 21 - 30 years (24.89%). It was also noted that majority of the accidents happened in the National Highways (59.51%) and pedestrians were the commonest victims (37.56%). Trucks were the most frequent offending vehicles (34.63%) followed by Buses (22.94%) The commonest cause of death was due to shock and haemorrhage (34.64%). large number of human lives can be saved if trauma centres are established along the National Highways equipped with well trained medical personnel and complete infrastructure of emergency care.

Pattern of neck findings in suicidal hanging A study in Manipur.

Deaths due to hanging are common among suicides. In a study on 84 cases of suicidal hanging brought for autopsy to the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal during 2004 to 2008, it was observed that 77.38% of the cases were males and 22.62% were females. The highest number of victims was in the age range of 21-40 years. 73.81% of the cases committed suicide indoors and 57.14% of them used ropes as ligature material. 85.75% of the victims had fixed knots with a single turn and 10.71% had slip knots. Complete atypical hanging constituted 88.10% of the cases. 23.81% of the cases had tear of the carotid artery and 3.57% had hyoid fractures. None of the cases had cricoid or trachea fractures. The neck findings vary depending upon the composition, multiplicity and tightness of the ligature material used, the suspension time, type of hanging, etc. Hence, the possible findings in a suspected case of hanging must be always anticipated so as to avoid any erroneous opinion.