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Death from pulmonary embolism of cyanoacrylate glue following gastric varix endoscopic injection

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Abstract

We present the case of a 25 year old woman with a complex past medical history including Crigler-Najjar syndrome (Type 1) with a liver transplant in 1993 and subsequent development of cirrhosis with portal hypertension in the transplanted liver. The deceased presented to hospital with hematemesis and investigations showed a large gastric varix. The varix was injected with cyanoacrylate glue. Within 30 min of injection the patient became acutely hypoxic. Urgent chest X-ray demonstrated radio opaque glue within the pulmonary arteries. It was evident that future treatment was futile and supportive treatment was withdrawn. The deceased was referred for medico legal post mortem examination. The post mortem CT scan performed prior to autopsy showed widespread radio-opaque material within the pulmonary arteries. At autopsy, rubbery grey/tan “clot” occluded the major proximal and segmental pulmonary arteries. Microscopic examination of the “clot” showed clumps of erythrocytes surrounded by foreign material. We discuss this relatively uncommon but well recognized complication of variceal injection with cyanoacrylate glue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, 65 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, Victoria, 3006, Australia

    Michael Philip Burke, Chris O’Donnell & Yeliena Baber

  2. Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Michael Philip Burke, Chris O’Donnell & Yeliena Baber

Authors
  1. Michael Philip Burke
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  2. Chris O’Donnell
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  3. Yeliena Baber
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Correspondence to Michael Philip Burke.

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This study was not funded.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Burke, M.P., O’Donnell, C. & Baber, Y. Death from pulmonary embolism of cyanoacrylate glue following gastric varix endoscopic injection. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 13, 82–85 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-016-9835-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-016-9835-4

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