Fatal rupture of an undiagnosed aneurysm of the splenic artery--medico-legal implications.
Aneurysms of the visceral arteries are a rather common feature appearing in 0.1-2% of the population. The clinical relevance of those anomalies varies a lot. The wide range of descriptions reaches from asymptomatic cases to fatalities in particular due to haemorrhages. The latter will be discussed in a case report concerning a 60-year-old man who collapsed at his work place and died 4 h after admission to the intensive care unit of a hospital nearby. The ruptured aneurysm remained undiagnosed in hospital and was found by autopsy. The case is presented and discussed in view of medico-legal questions.
Thierauf
A
A
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany. thierauf@uni-bonn.de
Preuss
J
J
Dettmeyer
R
R
Madea
B
B
D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000473:pathology*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D005858:Germany; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology
D006454:Hemoglobins