Skip to main content
Log in

An unusual case of sudden death in an alcohol addict

  • Casuistics
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The sudden and unexpected death of a 40-year-old female alcohol addict is described. At the autopsy recent rib fractures were found. The extremity of one fractured rib had caused a massive haemorrhage by erosion of a coronary artery.

Zusammenfassung

Beschrieben wird der plötzliche und unerwartete Tod einer 40-jährigen Alkoholikerin. Anläßlich der gerichtlichen Leichenöffnung, wurden frischere Rippenfrakturen festgestellt. Der Reibeeffekt der gebrochenen Rippen verletzte ein Herzkranzgefäß und führte zu einer massiven intrathorakalen Blutung, die als Todesursache gewertet werden muß.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Blackwelder WC, Yano K, Rhoads GG, Kagan A, Gordon T, Palesch Y (1980) Alcohol and mortality: the Honolulu heart study. Am J Med 68:164–169

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Room R, Day N (1974) Alcohol and mortality. Special report to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Rockville, MD

  3. Poikolainen K (1983) Inebriation and mortality. Int J Epidemiol 12:151–155

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Fraser GE, Upsdell M (1981) Alcohol and other discriminants between cases of sudden death and myocardial infarction. Am J Epidemiol 114:462–476

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Desruelles J, Masure A, Delcourt P, Richard R (1964) Alcoolisme et fractures de côtes. Lille médical 9:558–561

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mehaut M, Maudière R, Jouvet M (1970) Fréquence et signification des fractures de côtes chez l'alcoolique. Revue de l'Alcoolisme 16:187–216

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gonzales TA, Vance M, Helpern M, Umberger CJ (1954) Legal medicine, pathology and toxicology. Chapter: Influence of alcohol in trauma. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brandt-Casadevall, C., Krompecher, T. & Gujer, H.R. An unusual case of sudden death in an alcohol addict. Int J Leg Med 104, 55–57 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01816486

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01816486

Key words

Schlüsselwörter

Navigation