Delayed deaths after vascular traumatism: two cases.
During expert testimony in court, forensic pathologists are often asked to estimate the length of survival following fatal injuries. Though it is impossible to be precise, fatal vascular trauma survival times are generally considered short. We here report two unusual cases of delayed deaths, one following homicidal stabbing of the heart and the other by suicidal cutting of the neck. In those two cases, investigation clearly provided evidence of prolonged survival: slightly more than 2h for the first case and about 8h for the second. Relevant literature is revised and physiopathological hypotheses are discussed.
Sauvageau
Anny
A
Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale, Edifice Wilfrid-Derome, 1701 Parthenais Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2K 3S7. a.sauvageau@msp.gouv.qc.ca
Trépanier
Jean-Sébastien
JS
Racette
Stéphanie
S
D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000293:injuries*; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology*; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000473:pathology*