Journal of Forensic Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1): 1-6.DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410819

• Original Article •     Next Articles

Report on Cardiac Gross Pathologic Measurements of Sudden Cardiac Death in Adults

Jia-yi WU1(), You-jia YU1, Kai LI1, Xin YIN1, Han-ting FAN1, Rong LI1, Zhi-wei ZHANG1, Wei TANG1, Hui-jie HUANG1, Feng CHEN1,2()   

  1. 1.Department of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
    2.Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine in Jiangsu, Nanjing 211166, China
  • Received:2021-08-31 Online:2023-02-25 Published:2023-02-28
  • Contact: Feng CHEN

Abstract:

Objective To analyze the gross pathological data of sudden cardiac death (SCD) with different causes, to provide data support for the identification of sudden cardiac death with unknown causes. Methods A total of 167 adult SCD cases in the archive of the Forensic Expertise Institute of Nanjing Medical University from 2010 to 2020 were collected. The gross pathological data of SCD cases were summarized and the characteristics of different causes of death were statistically analyzed. Results The ratio of male to female SCD cases was 3.4∶1. Coronary heart disease was the leading cause of SCD, and mainly distributed in people over 40 years old. SCD caused by myocarditis was mainly distributed in young people and the mean age of death was (34.00±9.55) years. By analyzing the differences in cardiac pathological parameters of SCD with different causes, it was found that the aortic valve circumference was significantly dilated in the SCD caused by aortic aneurysm or dissection (P<0.05). The heart weight of SCD caused by aortic aneurysm or dissection and combined factors was greater, and both pulmonary and tricuspid valvular rings were dilated in the SCD caused by combined factors in adult males (P<0.05). Conclusion Various gross pathological measures of SCD with different causes are different, which has reference value in the cause of death identification of SCD.

Key words: forensic pathology, sudden cardiac death, cause of death, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection

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