title: Unsuspected cardiac lesions associated with sudden unexpected perioperative death.
abstract: The retrospective analysis of 1700 forensic autopsies over 17 years (1981-97) following unexpected sudden cardiac death revealed a group of 50 cases that could have been related to surgery and/or anaesthesia. Patients were young with no history of cardiac disease. Surgery was performed for uncomplicated disorders, all classified as ASA 1. Cardiac arrest took place at induction of anaesthesia in 16% of cases, during surgery in 64% and at the end of surgery in 20%. Investigation and expertise reports ordered by the public prosecutor revealed none of the typical causes of death usually associated with surgery or anaesthesia. Pathological examination showed cardiac lesions in 47 cases: arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in 18 cases, coronary artery disease in 10 cases, cardiomyopathy in eight cases, structural abnormalities of the His bundle in nine cases, mitral valve prolapse in one case, and acute myocarditis in one case. Identification of the cause of death of patients at low risk may provide major relief to the family of the patient and the medical staff.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, L. Pradel Hospital, BP Lyon Montchat, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabib
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loire
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miras
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thivolet-Bejui
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Timour
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bui-Xuan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malicier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia; D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D002036:Bundle of His / Q000473:pathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000401:mortality*