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Sudden death from left atrial pressure line wedging into cardiac valve prosthesis: Pathologic findings and forensic significance

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Summary

The case of a sudden death from late valve entrapment of a left atrial pressure monitoring line not removed postoperatively is considered from both biomechanical and pathological points of view because of its forensic significance in terms of malpractice liability.

Zusammenfassung

Eine 37 Jahre alte Frau verstarb plötzlich 3 Jahre nach Implantation einer künstlichen Herzklappe in Mitralposition; todesursächlich ware eine Blockade der Kippscheibe der Björk-Shiley-Klappe durch einen nach der Herzoperation im linken Vorhof belassenen Druckmeß-Katheter. Dargestellt werden die morphologischen Befunde und die Biomechanik der akuten Klappendysfunktion. Unter dem Aspekt der ärztlichen Fahrlässigkeit werden die medizinischen Begründungen für den Verzicht auf eine operative Entfernung des Katheters unter Berücksichtigung der Literatur über seltene ähnliche Fälle diskutiert.

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Bordignon, D., Betti, D. Sudden death from left atrial pressure line wedging into cardiac valve prosthesis: Pathologic findings and forensic significance. Z Rechtsmed 101, 131–135 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200294

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200294

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