[Fatal pulmonary thromoembolism].
BACKGROUND
Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism is a relatively common autopsy finding. The aim of this investigation is to describe the magnitude of the problem in an autopsy material and factors of prophylactic importance and to discuss the importance of the autopsy.


METHODS
Deceased with lethal pulmonary thromboembolism diagnosed by forensic autopsy at the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark in 1992-2005, in total 58 individuals. Data were collected from autopsy- plus police reports and medical records.


METHODS
Descriptive case-only investigation.


RESULTS
The pulmonary embolism had in none of the cases been diagnosed before death. Two of the individuals in this investigation were healthy young females who used oral contraceptives, and one was a psychiatric patient who died from pulmonary embolism after five days of physical restraint.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis is sometimes not made before the autopsy. The decreasing autopsy frequency may result in a lack of diagnosis of pulmonary embolism as cause of death.
Leth
Peter Mygind
PM
Syddansk Universitet, Retsmedicinsk Institut, Odense C. pleth@health.sdu.dk
Kamionka
Lukasz
L
Vinther
Nikolaj
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral