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Fatal air embolism in hospital confirmed by autopsy and postmortem computed tomography

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Abstract

Vascular air embolism is caused by penetration of air into veins or arteries through a surgical wound or other connection between the external and internal aspects of the body. Vascular air embolism has various causes, and iatrogenic air embolisms are the most frequently described. We report a case of fatal air embolism in an 83-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital. At the time of the incident, she was alone in her ward receiving an intravenous infusion of antibiotics via a peripheral line in her right forearm. She was also inhaling air through a mask, which was connected via a tubing system to a compressed air connection in the wall behind her bed. Autopsy and postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) findings are presented. The case illustrates the high diagnostic value of PMCT, which is an effective procedure for detecting the presence of air or gas.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Angela Morben, DVM, ELS, from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 34, D-22529, Hamburg, Germany

    Carolin Edler, Anke Klein, Klaus Püschel & Ann Sophie Schröder

Authors
  1. Carolin Edler
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  2. Anke Klein
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  3. Klaus Püschel
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  4. Ann Sophie Schröder
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Correspondence to Carolin Edler.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Edler, C., Klein, A., Püschel, K. et al. Fatal air embolism in hospital confirmed by autopsy and postmortem computed tomography. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 14, 251–254 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-018-9961-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-018-9961-2

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