Biting through an arteriovenous hemodialysis graft: an unusual method of suicide.
Patients on long-term hemodialysis often have multiple medical and social problems with associated psychological stress and depression. The suicide rate in this population is higher than the general population, and suicides have been reported following severing or disconnection of hemodialysis vascular access sites. We report a patient on chronic hemodialysis with a history of depression and suicidal ideation who bit into his forearm arteriovenous graft and exsanguinated.
New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Aglae
A
Charlot
Stephen
S
deRoux
D000328:Adult; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide