| An Analysis of Death after Wounding and Death from Embolism in Legal Autopsy Cases |
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Jung Jin Yun , Jai Kwan Suh |
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National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Seoul, Korea |
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| Abstract |
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One who have sustained the mechanical injury may die of the damage to the vital organs, hemorrhage, asphyxia, shock or embolism as a direct cause of death, and of its complication as various secondary infections (tetanus, peritonitis, pneumonia, cystitis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, etc.) and other non-infectious sequelae (traumatic shock lung, embolism, uremia, etc.).
A prevalence study was undertaken on deaths of mechanical violence or wounding, which had been autopsied during the period of 10 years from 1978 to 1987 at National Institute of Scientific Investigation. The results obtained were as follows:
1. Of 11,835 total autopsies, 3,268 cases (27.6%) were caused by mechanical violence, or wounding.
2. Among the 3,268 deaths by mechanical violences, the cases of homicide were 1,591 (48.7%), suicide 31 (0.9%), accidental death 670 (20.5%), and others undetermined.
3. According to the type of injury, the blunt force injuries were 2,424 (75.3%), sharp force injuries 814 (23.7%), and injuries by gun-shot or explosives 30 (0.9%).
4. The highest prevalence age group was their twenties (29.2%) followed by thirties (22.8%), fourties (16.8%) and teens (12.8%).
5. Head injuries by blunt force was the most common cause of death of mechanical violence (43.0%), and other major injuries were stabbing (23.5%) and rupture of visceral organs (10.6%).
6. In cases of secondary complications, peritonitis occurred most commonly and followed by pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and sepsis.
7. Twenty five cases (0.76%) among 3,268 mechanical violent deaths demonstrated hemodynamic derangement as DIC, pulmonary thromboembolism, fat embolism and amniotic embolism. |
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