TY - JOUR
T1 - Life-Threatening and Suspicious Lesions Caused by Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
AU - Milling, Louise
AU - Leth, Peter Mygind
AU - Astrup, Birgitte Schmidt
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Chest compression devices for mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have become more common. Here, we report the case of a young woman who attempted resuscitated with LUCAS™2 after she was found unconscious at home. At autopsy, we found extensive intramuscular hemorrhages in posterior neck, between the scapulae, and in the lumbar region. Investigation of internal organs showed injuries to the lung, spleen, and kidney. The extension of the injuries gave rise to suspicion of homicide by smothering, which police investigation subsequently did not support. The pattern of injury could be attributed to automatic compression decompression CPR with LUCAS™2.The injuries may have been lethal had the patient survived. For the forensic pathologists, it is important to remain updated on developments in treatment techniques to avoid pitfalls when interpreting injury.Larger studies, prospective or retrospective, may be able to qualify the possible risks of automatic compression decompression CPR even further.
AB - Chest compression devices for mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have become more common. Here, we report the case of a young woman who attempted resuscitated with LUCAS™2 after she was found unconscious at home. At autopsy, we found extensive intramuscular hemorrhages in posterior neck, between the scapulae, and in the lumbar region. Investigation of internal organs showed injuries to the lung, spleen, and kidney. The extension of the injuries gave rise to suspicion of homicide by smothering, which police investigation subsequently did not support. The pattern of injury could be attributed to automatic compression decompression CPR with LUCAS™2.The injuries may have been lethal had the patient survived. For the forensic pathologists, it is important to remain updated on developments in treatment techniques to avoid pitfalls when interpreting injury.Larger studies, prospective or retrospective, may be able to qualify the possible risks of automatic compression decompression CPR even further.
KW - Journal Article
UR - http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/28657909
U2 - 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000321
DO - 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000321
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28657909
SN - 0195-7910
VL - 38
SP - 219
EP - 221
JO - The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
JF - The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
IS - 3
ER -