Forensic Review of the Iatrogenic Injury of Carotid Artery: The Report of an Autopsy Case.

Jeon, Seok Hoon; Kang, Gu Hyun; Min, Byung Woo; Lee, Sang Yong; Seo, Joong Seok

Case Report

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2005;29(1):60-63.
Published online May 31, 2005.

Forensic Review of the Iatrogenic Injury of Carotid Artery: The Report of an Autopsy Case.

Seok Hoon Jeon, Gu Hyun Kang, Byung Woo Min, Sang Yong Lee, Joong Seok Seo

Department of forensic medicine, Central district office, National institute of scientific investigation, Korea. j52459567@dreamwiz.com

Abstract

One case of the iatrogenic injury of carotid artery is reported. The deceased person was a 54-yearold woman. She visited a local clinic because she had the severe pain on back and neck and the radiating pain of left lower extremity. Under the diagnosis of the herniated cervical disc, the operation was performed. After five hours from starting the operation, respiratory difficulty, facial cyanosis and syncope were found, suddenly. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, however eventually she died. The autopsy was performed. In the neck, large hematoma at the posterior portion of neck organ and perforation of right carotid artery were noted.

Key Words: Iatrogenic injury, Carotid artery, Operation, Herniated cervical disc