Coprophagic café coronary.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Neurology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Severe multi-infarct dementia can lead to behavioral changes, including pica (compulsive ingestion of non-food items).
• Institutionalized patients with dementia require careful monitoring due to potential risks associated with their condition.

Observation:

• An elderly male patient with a history of severe multi-infarct dementia and compulsive ingestion presented deceased.
• Autopsy revealed a large bolus of fecal material lodged in the laryngopharynx, causing airway obstruction.

Findings:

• The cause of death was determined to be airway obstruction due to a fecal impaction, a rare form of cafe coronary syndrome.
• This case highlights the fatal consequences of pica in individuals with cognitive impairment.

Implications:

• Demented individuals with pica are at significant risk of sudden death from ingesting diverse materials.
• Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential for fatal airway obstruction in such patients.
• This emphasizes the need for specialized care and monitoring for institutionalized patients with dementia and pica.