NCJ Number
187630
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2001 Pages: 396-398
Date Published
March 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper presents a case study of a 17-year-old female who died as the result of a cardiac tamponade related to the rupture of a post-traumatic left ventricle false aneurysm 6 weeks after sustaining multiple injuries in a motor vehicle accident.
Abstract
Ventricular aneurysms may be true aneurysms or false aneurysms. True aneurysms represent transmural myocardial infarcts that have remodeled and thinned. Their wall consists of all the myocardial elements. They contain a prominent component of collagen and fibrous tissue and thus do not tend to rupture. In contrast, false aneurysms represent free wall ruptures that are contained by adherent pericardium. Most false aneurysms of the heart represent contained ventricular free wall ruptures after myocardial infarction. Post-traumatic aneurysms also may follow penetrating or non-penetrating trauma to the chest. Regardless of the origin of the false aneurysms, there is a propensity for aneurysm rupture. This paper reports on a patient who developed a false aneurysm of her left ventricle that developed after a motor vehicle accident. Her orthopedic problems were the clinical problems identified, and after a hospital admission of 10 days, she was discharged home. Four weeks later she died suddenly from anterior left ventricle false aneurysm rupture and tamponade. Patients with significant chest wall trauma should be assessed for cardiac pathology prior to discharge. Presentation may be delayed and be overshadowed by more evident pathology. Trauma-related aneurysms may cause sudden death, and this may occur some later time after the trauma. Attributing the cause of death to the trauma, which may be remote, is important for the forensic investigator to remember. 1 figure and 16 references