Fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage during sexual activity: a case report

In this article, a case of sudden and unexpected death of a homeless 45-year-old woman is described. The woman suddenly died following sexual intercourse. When her partner described the circumstances surrounding her death, he reported that it was about 1:00 PM and they were on the beach lying under a boat. Shortly after intercourse,the woman had severe dyspnea and rigidity of the body. Medical assistance was immediately called to the place but despite attempts of resuscitation,the woman died. A complete medico-legal autopsy was performed.The external examination was unremarkable; no signs of injuries or trauma were observed. However, the sectioning of the skull showed a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage because of a rupture of the aneurysmatic basilar artery. This case demonstrates that subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to a cerebral artery rupture is still an important cause of death despite steady advances in diagnosis and treatment.