Forensic Features of Lethal Late-Presenting Diaphragmatic Hernias

• Melissa Thompson ^[1] ; Stephen Wills ^[2] ; Roger W. Byard ^[2]
  1. [1] Anatomical Pathology SA Pathology Adelaide Australia
  2. [2] Forensic Science SA Adelaide Australia
• Localización: Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN-e 1556-4029, ISSN 0022-1198, Vol. 61, Nº. 5, 2016, págs. 1261-1265
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Diaphragmatic defects are a relatively common and benign finding in adults which may be congenital or secondarily acquired. The case files at Forensic Sciences South Australia were reviewed over a 10-year period from July 2005 to June 2015 for all adult (>17 years) cases in which diaphragmatic hernias were identified at postmortem examination that had either caused or contributed to death. Five cases were found: age range 49–90 years (average 67.2 years); male:female ratio 2:3. Herniated organs included the stomach (N = 3), small (N = 3) and large intestines (N = 2). Mechanisms of death involved lung compression with respiratory failure and/or mediastinal shift, and vascular compromise with gastric or intestinal infarction and/or perforation. Diaphragmatic hernias may not be identified until the time of autopsy and may be quite complex entities to evaluate due to a lack of clinical history and to difficulties in determining their origin and possible contributions to mechanisms of death