ABSTRACT
We present three cases of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia causing or contributing to sudden death. These cases serve to highlight the range of clinical presentations and histological features seen in this rare and poorly understood condition. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a cardiomyopathy characterized by a normal or mild increase in heart weight with right-sided heart dilatation. Typically a proportion of the right ventricular muscle is replaced by fat and fibrous tissue. Clinically, the condition is characterized by episodes of ventricular tachycardia and global dyskinesia of the right ventricle. It may cause ventricular fibrillation and sudden death, especially in young persons engaged in strenuous exercise or who experience severe emotional outburst. The aetiology of the condition is unknown, although it has been noted to show familial clustering in some cases.
Subject(s)
Death, Sudden/etiology , Heart Ventricles/pathology , Tachycardia, Ventricular/diagnosis , Adolescent , Amitriptyline/poisoning , Diagnosis, Differential , Drug Overdose , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardium/pathology , Organ Size , Tachycardia, Ventricular/etiologyABSTRACT
Suffocation by plastic bag is not common. The finding of a body at the scene of death with a plastic bag in situ could be diagnostically valuable to the pathologist. Otherwise the pathologist may be hard put to arrive at a firm opinion as to how the deceased met his/her death; in fact, in three of the cases reported in this paper, the local pathologist could not give a cause of death when the initial autopsy was performed. Plastic bags could be accidentally placed over the head; put there to help in the inhalation of volatile substances; with homicidal intention; or simply as an effective suicidal method. The object of this paper is to study the cases where bodies were found with a plastic bag over the head, and in particular the cases where the cause of death was due to plastic bag suffocation.
Subject(s)
Asphyxia/pathology , Plastics , Suicide , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A case of fatal disulfiram-alcohol reaction due to ingestion of ethanol and antabuse is presented. Unusual autopsy findings and toxicological results are described. This case represents a report of corrosion lesion in the lower oesophagus and stomach due to a violent chemical reaction in situ and also the highest blood concentration of acetaldehyde (41 mg/l) ever recorded.
