Sudden Unexpected Death of Hospitalized Patients with Pneumonia: 4 Autopsy cases.
- Author:
Youn Shin KIM
1
;
Yu Duck CHOI
;
Young Seok KIM
;
Minseob EOM
;
Han Young LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Forensic Medicine, Western District Office, Korea. ysk007@fm@hotmail.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Pneumonia;
Sudden death;
Admission
- MeSH:
Autopsy*;
Causality;
Cause of Death;
Death, Sudden;
Hospitalization;
Humans;
Pneumonia*
- From:Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
2006;30(2):129-134
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Four cases of sudden unexpected death during hospitalization are described where autopsy examination showed lobar pneumonia. As widely accepted, sudden death is defined as a natural unexpected death within 1 hour of symptoms and it is well known that pneumonia can be a cause of sudden death. Although pneumonia is a common finding in autopsy, it is not usual that pneumonia is a direct cause of death, especially in medicolegal autopsy cases. In the present study about 4 cases, pneumonia was primary illness and direct cause of death. 4 victims were all male(39~74 years) and found dead on the bed or corridor couch during their admission. The authors describe the autopsy findings, clinical features and courses, and predisposing factors, with literature review.
