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Fatal thromboembolism following physical restraint in a patient with schizophrenia
Rossana Cecchi1, Antonella Lazzaro, Miriam Catanese
1Department of Anatomical, Histological, Legal Medical and Orthopaedic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena 336, Rome, Italy. rossana.cecchi@uniroma1.it
Abstract:
Fatal thromboembolism during physical restraint in patients suffering from psychotic disorders is a very rare occurrence. In the case we present here, the criteria used in forensic pathology for the age determination of venous thrombi are applied to a case of pulmonary embolism in a patient suffering from schizophrenia who died after physical restraint. The possible association between conventional antipsychotic drugs and deep venous thrombosis, followed by pulmonary embolism, in a man with no predisposing risk factors, as well as the question concerning the appropriateness of medical care, are discussed.
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