Morphological analysis of cardiac rupture due to blunt injury, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and myocardial infarction in forensic pathology / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the morphological features and forensic pathological characteristics of cardiac ruptures of different causes for their differential diagnosis.@*METHODS@#We analyzed the data of 44 autopsy cases of cardiac rupture from 2014 to 2017 in our institute, including 11 cases caused by blunt violence with intact pericardium, 4 caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), 9 by myocardial infarction, and 20 by aorta dissection rupture.The gross features and histopathological characteristics of cardiac rupture and pericardial effusion were analyzed and compared.@*RESULTS@#Cardiac ruptures caused by blunt violence varied in both morphology and locations, and multiple ruptures could be found, often accompanied with rib or sternum fractures; the volume of pericardial effusion was variable in a wide range; microscopically, hemorrhage and contraction band necrosis could be observed in the cardiac tissue surrounding the rupture.Cardiac ruptures caused by CPR occurred typically near the apex of the right ventricular anterior wall, and the laceration was often parallel to the interventricular septum with frequent rib and sternum fractures; the volume of pericardial blood was small without blood clots; microscopic examination only revealed a few hemorrhages around the ruptured cardiac muscular fibers.Cardiac ruptures due to myocardial infarction caused massive pericardial blood with blood clots, and the blood volume was significantly greater than that found in cases of CPR-induced cardiac rupture ( < 0.05);lacerations were confined in the left ventricular anterior wall, and the microscopic findings included myocardial necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mural thrombus.Cardiac tamponade resulting from aorta dissection rupture was featured by massive pericardial blood with blood clots, and the blood volume was much greater than that in cases of cardiac ruptures caused by blunt violence, myocardial infarction and CPR ( < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Hemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and lateral thrombi around the cardiac rupture, along with pericardial blood clots, are all evidences of antemortem injuries.

Forensic pathological analysis of 8 cases of sudden failure of non - hypertensive aortic dissection / 中国法医学杂志

Objective To investigate etiology and pathological morphological characteristics of sudden death caused by non-atherosclerotic aortic dissection. Propose accurate diagnosis of non-atherosclerotic aortic dissection by a proper method to autopsy. Methods A total of 8 cases of non-atherosclerotic aortic dissection from 2007 to 2015 were evaluated and analyzed in the present study. Results Non-atherosclerotic aortic dissection rupture is more common in men under the age of 40. It is lack of a typical clinical symptoms and had no marked history of hypertension. There are no related pathological changes of hypertension observed in autopsy. The pathological type is mainly DeBakey 1, in the main arteries,where it was found that decrease of elastic fibers and smooth muscle, cystic degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration and other changes in media membrane. These changes were also found in the media arteries in 5 cases. Conclusion The etiology of non-atherosclerotic aortic dissection is complex, which is closely associated with many factors, such as genetics and inflammation. It affects the vessels systemically. In addition, systematic examination of large vessels is necessary as well as the examination of the middle arteries during autopsy. It is suggested that genetic tests are carried out for definite diagnosis.