RESUMO
On September 7th, 2017, one female patient, aged 48 years with deep partial-thickness flame burn on face, upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs of 40% total body surface area was admitted to the First People′s Hospital of Foshan City. After admission, active fluid replacement, anti-infection, nutritional support, and other treatments were performed. After debridement and skin grafting for 3 times and blood transfusion for 2 times, the patient recovered well. On the 20th day post admission, sudden heartbeat and respiratory arrest happened, and the patient died after ineffective rescue. Autopsy showed that thrombus formed in right internal jugular vein and deep veins of lower extremities, and vascular lumina of the bilateral pulmonary artery. The direct cause of death was acute pulmonary thromboembolism, but whether the embolus originated from deep vein of lower extremity or right internal jugular vein was not clear. This case suggests that clinician should not only pay attention to the prevention of deep venous thrombosis of lower extremities of burn patients, but also the possibility of internal jugular vein thrombosis, especially for patients with internal jugular vein access.
RESUMO
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.