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Fatal Spontaneous Retropharyngeal Hematoma with Airway Obstruction in the Setting of Treatment with Dipyridamole
Author(s) -
Torimitsu Suguru,
Makino Yohsuke,
Yamaguchi Rutsuko,
Chiba Fumiko,
Tsuneya Shigeki,
Iwase Hirotaro
Publication year - 2020
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 - 10.1111/1556-4029.14226
Subject(s) - medicine , asphyxia , autopsy , airway obstruction , hematoma , surgery , cause of death , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , radiology , airway , anesthesia , resuscitation , disease
We report a fatal case of airway obstruction caused by spontaneous retropharyngeal hematoma (RH) in the setting of treatment with dipyridamole. A 90‐year‐old woman presented with cervical swelling, neck and chest ecchymoses, and complaints of dyspnea. She suffered cardiopulmonary arrest in the ambulance, and her death was confirmed after transportation to the hospital. The major finding of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) prior to autopsy was widening of the prevertebral soft tissue. The results of the autopsy indicated that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia, secondary to pharyngeal and laryngeal compression caused by the RH. There were no evident injuries, medical interventions, or particular diseases, suggesting the spontaneous cause of the RH. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a fatal case secondary to spontaneous RH that was revealed through PMCT imaging.