title: Fatal posture- and heroin-related intestinal infarction and leg muscle necrosis after snorting heroin. A case report.
abstract: We present a case of a male patient who spent several hours sitting with legs crossed and upper body bent forward after nasal insufflation of heroin (snorting). Death occurred 3 days later as a result of leg muscle necrosis and intestinal ileus with infarction. The autopsy findings, including microthrombi in small mesenteric vessels and necrosis of the leg muscles, were attributed to vascular compression due to the man's position and to metabolic processes resulting from drug ingestion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rabl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Markwalder
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin