CARDIAC TAMPONADE DUE TO RUPTURED MYOCARDIAL INFARCT IN A CASE OF DROWNING: WHETHER NATURAL OR UNNATURAL DEATH?
Keywords:
Drowning, Cardiac tamponade, Combined death, Manner of deathAbstract
Drowning and cardiac tamponade secondary to ruptured myocardial infarct are independent cause of death commonly found in routine postmortems. But combination of these causes of death in a single case is rare. Here we are presenting a case of a cardiac tamponade due to pathological ruptured myocardial infarction with subsequent accidental fall in the water tank leading to death by drowning. In such case, the manner of death is natural or accidental is the point of issue which may arise in minds of investigating agency, insurance personnel and the relatives of the deceased.
References
Ambade VN, Godbole HV, Kukde HG. Suicidal and homicidal deaths: A comparative and circumstantial approach. J Forensic and Leg Med, 2007; 14: 253-260.
Karmakar RN. Mukherjee’s Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 3rd edi, Academic Publishers, Kolkata, 2007, p: 631-41.
Fiedler M, Nelson LA. Cardiac tamponade. Int Anaesthesiol Clin. 2005; 64:245-255. Quan L, Gose EJ, Went K, Allen NJ, and Novak AH. Ten year study of pediatric drowning and near drowning in kings county, Washington. Lesson in injury prevention. Pediatrics. 83; 6:1035-1040.
Jain AK. Survival following cardiac tamponade and arrest in a paediatric patient with penetrating trauma to pulmonary artery. Paediatr Anaesth. 1998; 8(4):345-8.
Shintani F, Watanabe S, Inaki K, Tanaka S, Clinical implication of sequential changes in blood pressure and heart rate during Japanese-Style Bathing, Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 1982; 6.9: 759-765.
Inamura K, Sudden death of aged persons in bath tub, Res. Pract. Forens. Med. 1995; 38: 349-351.
Aihara H, Aihara M. Medical and sociological study of death during bathing. 2003, http://www.medline.ru/ public/sudm/a2/art3-2-1.phtml. Accessed on 05/01/ 2012.
Shirakura T. Cerebral apoplexy and hotspring. Health Care. 1990; 32:5:276-281.