Lethal cardiac tamponade due to aortotomy wound dehiscence after cardiac valve replacement: a forensic presentation

Lethal cardiac tamponade due to aortotomy wound dehiscence after cardiac valve replacement (CVR) are apparently unreported in the recent literature. An uncommon example of delayed non-valvular lethal complication of CVR occurring in the early out-patient period is reported here. The forensic aspects of wound dehiscence in cardiovascular surgery for cardiac valve replacement are discussed, and complemented by a study of the fracture ends of suture material in wound breakdown associated with the suture failure.