Injuries associated with resuscitation - An overview.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiology

Background:

• External cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is vital for preserving brain function during cardiac arrest.
• CPR techniques, while life-saving, can lead to iatrogenic injuries.
• These injuries may complicate the forensic assessment of sudden death cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the spectrum of injuries caused by external cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• To inform forensic examiners about less common CPR-induced injuries.
• To aid in the accurate interpretation of findings in cases of sudden death.

Main Methods:

• Review of medical literature on CPR-related injuries.
• Analysis of case reports and forensic autopsy findings.
• Discussion of the implications for forensic investigation.

Main Results:

• Rib and sternum fractures are common CPR-related injuries.
• Less common injuries include laryngeal fractures and damage to abdominal organs (stomach, spleen, liver).
• These injuries, though infrequent, are significant for forensic evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Awareness of the full range of CPR-induced injuries is crucial for forensic pathologists.
• Distinguishing between ante-mortem CPR injuries and other causes of death is essential.
• Accurate assessment of CPR-related trauma improves the interpretation of sudden death investigations.