A case of autopsy discovery of acute chest syndrome triggered by pulmonary embolism in a sickle cell patient.

This is a case report about a 7-year-old male child with sickle cell anemia (S/ß+) who died unexpectedly during hospitalization, justifying the performance of a forensic autopsy completed by histological examination of organ fragments and toxicological analyses of biological fluids. The diagnosis retained was pulmonary thromboembolism as the cause of death occurring in the context of an acute chest syndrome (ACS). The mechanism of occurrence of this pulmonary embolism was vascular stasis caused by sickle cell disease. The search for etiologies of ACS complicating sickle cell disease should not exclude pulmonary embolism with red cell dense fibrin clot..

[Medico-legal aspects of deaths by mechanical asphyxia occurring in Abidjan from 2002 to 2020]. / Aspects medico-legaux des morts par asphyxies mecaniques survenues a Abidjan de 2002 a 2020.

AIM: The aim of this work was to describe the deaths by mechanical as phyxiation that occurred in Abidjan in order to contribute to their prevention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective and descriptive study carried out over a period of 19 years (2002-2020) and relating to deaths by mechanical asphyxia treated by Forensic Medicine. RESULTS: Deaths by mechanical asphyxiation represented 1.23% (756/60,984), concerned men (85%), from the informal sector (39.7%) or pupils/students (34.1%), single people (75%). These deaths occurred on Wednesdays (16.7%), in the afternoon (47.9%), during the month of June (15.2%), by drowning (72.2%), during swimming (56%). The hanging (15.1%) was discovered at the victim's home (95.6%) and the contexts that occurred were financial problems (26%) and depression (25%). Choking (11.4%) followed landslides (79%). Strangulation (1.3%) was criminal (100%) and occurred in the context of settling scores (60%) and crimes of passion (40%). The circumstances of occurrence of drowning and suffocation were accidental respectively in 71.8% and 82.6% of cases while hanging was suicidal (85%). CONCLUSION: Deaths by mechanical asphyxiation although minimal, constitute a social drama. Their prevention requires the implementation of preventive measures against drowning.

BUT: Ce travail avait pour but de décrire les morts par asphyxies mécaniques survenus à Abidjan en vue de contribuer à leur prévention. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective et descriptive réalisée sur une période de 19 ans (2002- 2O20) et portant sur les morts par asphyxies mécaniques pris en charge par la Médecine Légale. RÉSULTATS: Les morts par asphyxies mécaniques représentaient 1,23%(756/60984), concernaient les hommes(85%), issus du secteur informel (39,7%) ouélèves/étudiants(34,1%), célibataire(75%). Ces décès survenaient les mercredis (16,7%), dans l'après-midi(47,9%), pendant le mois de Juin(15,2%), par noyade(72,2%), lors des baignades (56%). La pendaison(15,1%) était découverte au domicile de la victime(95,6 %) et les contextes de survenus étaient les problèmes financiers(26%) et la dépression(25%). Les suffocations(11,4%) faisaient suites aux éboulements de terrain(79%). La strangulation(1,3%) était criminelle (100%) et survenait dans les contextes de règlements de compte(60%) et de crimes passionnels(40%). Les circonstances de survenue des noyades et des suffocations étaient accidentelles respectivement dans 71,8% et 82,6% des cas alors que la pendaison était suicidaire(85%). CONCLUSION: Les morts par asphyxies mécaniques bien que minimes, constituent un drame social. Leur prévention passe par la mise en place des mesures de prévention contre les noyades.

Sudden death during worker transportation due to massive pulmonary thromboembolism: a case report.

This is a report on a 30-year-old black man who suddenly died in the worker transportation vehicle in which he had been quietly sitting for thirty minutes. No information about his medical or surgical history or any family history has been obtained. This case is intended to highlight the fact that forensic autopsy is a valuable tool to recognize the cause of death and that fatal pulmonary thromboembolism still remains a post-mortem diagnosis. In this case report, the autopsy found a fresh saddle pulmonary thromboembolus associated with partially organized thrombi of the inferior vena cava. Can a prolonged seated position encourage thrombus formation? We think that seat-related factors and especially patient-related factors intervene together in the development of thromboembolic events. In our medico-legal unit, having no means to search for these factors, we speculated on the various causes that could be involved in the occurrence of venous thromboembolism in our subject. We emphasize the importance of focusing research on genetic factors and the impact of traditional medicine in African people.

Evaluation of three rapid detection methods for the forensic identification of seminal fluid in rape cases.

We sought to discover whether spermatozoa concentration and the delay between ejaculation and test influence the results of seminal fluid fast detection tests. Two hundred and twenty-seven anonymous samples divided into four groups (normospermia, oligospermia, azoospermia, and controls) after a semen analysis were subjected to three fast detection semen tests: Diff-Quick fast coloration, Phosphatesmo Km Paper for acid phosphatases (AP) detection, and PSA-Check 1 for prostate specific antigen (PSA) detection. The study was performed at three time points (0, 48, and 72 h). Unlike cytology, results obtained with AP and PSA were not influenced by spermatozoa concentration. PSA detection results remained constant up to 72 h and were more reliable after 48 h than those obtained by AP detection.