Gastric mucosal tears and wall micro perforations after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a drowning case

Broi, Ugo Da; Moreschi, Carlo; Castellani, Marta; Antonella, Bonetti

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2008.05.010

« Previous Next »Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 1 , Pages 24-26, January 2009

Gastric mucosal tears and wall micro perforations after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a drowning case

Ugo Da Broi, MD (Research Associate)
- Department of Medical Morphological Research, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Udine, Italy
- Corresponding author. Present address: Sezione Dipartimentale di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Udine, Caserma Reginato, Via Pracchiuso, 14/b, 33100 Udine, Italy. Tel.: +39 0432 506046; fax: +39 0432 504649.
Carlo Moreschi, MD (Professor of Forensic Medicine)
- Department of Medical Morphological Research, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Udine, Italy
Marta Castellani, MD (Research Associate)
- Department of Medical Morphological Research, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Udine, Italy
Bonetti Antonella, MD (Research Associate)
- Department of Medical Morphological Research, Section of Histology, University of Udine, Italy

Received 1 August 2007; received in revised form 10 March 2008; accepted 18 May 2008.

Abstract

A fifty year-old woman died after drowning in a swimming-pool. Rescue and ambulance paramedic teams started resuscitation attempts followed by a medical care helicopter team. Acute haematemesis, mucosal tears and gastric micro perforations occurred, due to the cardiorespiratory resuscitation manoeuvres. Death occurred seven days later due to the cerebral anoxia and multiorgan failure.

Forensic investigations excluded possible malpractice during external cardiac massage as responsible for the woman’s death, while Judicial Authority considered the death as the consequence of the delayed intervention of the swimming-pool rescue team.

Keywords: Drowning, Resuscitation, Gastric Lesions