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Multiple heart and pericardial lacerations due to blunt trauma from assault

Andrea Porzionato1, Massimo Montisci, Cristina Basso

  • 1Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35121 Padua, Italy.

Cardiovascular Pathology : the Official Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology
|April 15, 2004
PubMed

Insights

An 80-year-old woman experienced fatal hemorrhagic shock due to blunt force trauma. Blunt assault caused severe chest injuries, including multiple cardiac and pericardial lacerations, leading to death.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Cardiovascular Pathology

Background:

  • Blunt force trauma can cause severe internal injuries.
  • Assaults involving significant force may result in complex thoracic trauma.

Observation:

  • An 80-year-old female victim of assault presented with fatal hemorrhagic shock.
  • Postmortem examination revealed sternal and bilateral rib fractures.
  • Multiple lacerations of the heart and pericardium were identified, including tears in the left atrium and vena cava.

Findings:

  • The victim sustained multiple heart and pericardial lacerations and myocardial contusion from blunt trauma.
  • Injuries were attributed to cardiac compression between the sternum and vertebrae, exacerbated by rib fractures and sternal displacement.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for severe cardiovascular damage from blunt force chest trauma.
  • Understanding the biomechanics of such injuries is crucial for forensic investigations.
  • Such trauma can lead to rapid exsanguination and death.

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