title: Forensic features of pharmacobezoars.
abstract: Three cases of pharmacobezoars are reported to demonstrate typical autopsy findings and potential lethal mechanisms: (i) A 32-year-old woman died following an overdose of prescription medications. A gelatinous pharmacobezoar was found forming a cast of her bronchial tree. (ii) A 24-year-old woman also died following an overdose of prescription medications. At autopsy, two pharmacobezoars were present, one within the larynx and another occluding the right main bronchus. Deaths in both cases were attributed to airway occlusion by pharmacobezoars complicating mixed drug toxicity. (iii) A 79-year-old man was found dead in a car. Death was attributed to the combined effects of carbon monoxide and drug toxicity with a large pharmacobezoar lodged within the esophagus. Pharmacobezoars are specific types of bezoars that occur when pharmaceutical materials, such as tablets, suspensions, and/or drug delivery devices, aggregate and contribute to death by occluding airways with tenacious material or by eluting drugs.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science SA, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: England
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Roger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Byard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology*; D001630:Bezoars / Q000473:pathology*; D001980:Bronchi; D062787:Drug Overdose; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx; D008297:Male; D013607:Tablets; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013607:Tablets
keywords: airway obstruction; asphyxia; aspiration; forensic science; pharmacobezoars; reflux; sudden death