Sudden Unexpected Death of Hospitalized Patients with Pneumonia: 4 Autopsy cases.

Kim, Youn Shin; Choi, Yu Duck; Kim, Young Seok; Eom, Minseob; Lee, Han Young

Case Report

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2006;30(2):129-134.
Published online October 31, 2006.

Sudden Unexpected Death of Hospitalized Patients with Pneumonia: 4 Autopsy cases.

Youn Shin Kim, Yu Duck Choi, Young Seok Kim, Minseob Eom, Han Young Lee

¹Department of Forensic Medicine, Western District Office, Korea. ysk007@fm@hotmail.com
²Department of Forensic Medicine, Eastern District Office, National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Korea.

Abstract

Four cases of sudden unexpected death during hospitalization are described where autopsy examination showed lobar pneumonia. As widely accepted, sudden death is defined as a natural unexpected death within 1 hour of symptoms and it is well known that pneumonia can be a cause of sudden death. Although pneumonia is a common finding in autopsy, it is not usual that pneumonia is a direct cause of death, especially in medicolegal autopsy cases. In the present study about 4 cases, pneumonia was primary illness and direct cause of death. 4 victims were all male(39~74 years) and found dead on the bed or corridor couch during their admission. The authors describe the autopsy findings, clinical features and courses, and predisposing factors, with literature review.

Key Words: Pneumonia, Sudden death, Admission