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Cardiac Inhibitory Reflex as a Cause/Mechanism of Death
Author(s) -
SuárezPeñaranda Jose M.,
Cordeiro Cristina,
RodríguezCalvo Marisol,
Vieira Duarte N.,
MuñozBarús Jose Ignacio
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12212
Subject(s) - reflex , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , vasovagal syncope , carotid sinus , medicine , cause of death , autopsy , ligature , vagovagal reflex , stimulus (psychology) , cardiology , anesthesia , psychology , disease , psychotherapist
The role of cardiac inhibitory reflex as a potential cause of death is still a matter of debate. This study reports two cases of death under unusual circumstances. Case 1 corresponds to a man found hanging where the role of ligature compression of the carotid sinus became relevant as a possible explanation of death. In C ase 2, the participation of a vasovagal syncope was clearly triggered by the laryngoscopic procedure. It is proposed that cardiac inhibitory reflex should be taken into account in those cases of unexpected death, which fulfills the following three criteria: (i) The investigation of the circumstances of the death is consistent with a hypothesis of cardiac arrest. (ii) A typical triggering peripheral stimulus is present. (iii) The performance of a complete autopsy cannot rule out the participation of a cardiac inhibitory reflex in the cause of death.