title: Lethal cardiac tamponade due to aortotomy wound dehiscence after cardiac valve replacement: a forensic presentation.
abstract: Lethal cardiac tamponade due to aortotomy wound dehiscence after cardiac valve replacement (CVR) are apparently unreported in the recent literature. An uncommon example of delayed non-valvular lethal complication of CVR occurring in the early out-patient period is reported here. The forensic aspects of wound dehiscence in cardiovascular surgery for cardiac valve replacement are discussed, and complemented by a study of the fracture ends of suture material in wound breakdown associated with the suture failure.
authors.affiliation: UMDS Guy's Hospital (University of London), England.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000473:pathology*; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000473:pathology*; D013537:Sutures; D013718:Tensile Strength