Haemorrhagic shock leading to death due to ruptured esophageal varices: An autopsy based case report

and importance: Ruptured esophageal varices are fatal and cause haemorrhagic shock and consequently death if no immediate intervention is instituted to arrest bleeding. The role of forensic pathologists in investigating cases of sudden unexpected deaths is of paramount importance. Upon medico-legal work ups by forensic pathologists, autopsy would shed light to the exact cause of death as to whether it is natural or unnatural.

We are reporting an unusual case of an elderly man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis who succumbed to sudden death following ruptured esophageal varices which led to haemorrhagic shock.

Clinical autopsy was carried out to establish the cause of death. Tissue sections from the healed pathologically fractured bone, liver, prostate and esophagus were taken for histological evaluation. The bone tissue showed relative reparative changes and the prostate tissue showed hyperplasia of both stroma and epithelial components. The tissue from the esophagus showed proliferating distended, engorged vascular structures and some were thrombosed (photograph 3). Liver biopsy showed destruction of the normal liver parenchyma by both micro and macro nodular formation which was marked by the thick broad fibrous bands. A conclusive diagnosis of hemorrhagic shock secondary to ruptured esophageal varices caused by alcoholic liver cirrhosis was established as the cause of death.

Esophageal varices can be the likely cause of sudden death upon rupturing. Rupturing of esophageal varices in individuals with a known long-standing history of alcoholism must always be considered in order to prevent haemorrhagic shock from ensuing.