A Statistical Analysis on Forensic Autopsies Performed in Korea in 2017

Self Cite

We analyzed the manner and cause of death in 945 forensic autopsies from the Jungbu province (Central part of South Korea) conducted by the National Forensic Service Daejeon institute in 2020. Analysis of the manner of death revealed that 43.6% (412/945 cases) were natural deaths, 41.6% (393/945 cases) were unnatural deaths, and 14.8% (140/945 cases) deaths were unknown. Among the unnatural deaths, the major manner of death (40.7%, 160/393 cases) were by accidents, 29.5% (116/393 cases) were by suicide, 21.6% (85/393 cases) were undetermined, and 8.1% (32/393 cases) were by homicide. Among the unnatural deaths, the major cause of death (42.7%, 168/393 cases) were by trauma, 19.3% (76/393 cases) were by poisoning, and 16.5% (65/393 cases) were by asphyxia. Falling was the major cause of death by trauma (42.9%, 72/168 cases) and strangulation was the major cause of death by asphyxia (72.3%, 47/65 cases). Among natural deaths, heart disease was the major cause (43.7%, 180/412 cases), followed by vascular disease (18.9%, 78/412 cases). This study is the first statistical analysis of the manner and cause of deaths in the Jungbu province. A time-series statistical analysis of the manner and cause of deaths in this province might allow more advanced interpretations about both public safety and healthcare in the future.

Section: 재료 및 방법unclassified

unclassified

A Statistical Analysis of Forensic Autopsies Performed in the Jungbu Province of Korea in 2020

Kim¹,

Kim²,

Kim³

et al. 2021

Self Cite

“…Hanging is the most prevalent method of suicide due to asphyxia [1], and data from death certificates indicate that it is the most common suicide method in South Korea [2]. A recent analysis of forensic autopsy data further supports this trend, with hanging identified as the most common cause of death among 1,316 suicide cases in 2017, accounting for 398 cases [3]. Although hanging is the more prevalent method, ligature strangulation is also used to commit suicide by asphyxia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

An Unusual Case of Asphyxia by Ligature about the Thorax

Lee,

Park,

2024

Compressive asphyxia is generally defined as a type of asphyxia caused by chest or abdominal compression by a heavy object. It has also been reported that it could be caused by external compression caused by ligatures around the chest or abdomen. However, asphyxia caused by ligature around the thorax has not been reported in suicide cases. We present an unusual case of suicide in which the cause of death was attributed to asphyxia caused by a ligature around the thorax. The deceased was a 41-year-old woman who was found dead and suspended by a rope around the thorax from a rooftop railing on the twelfth floor of a building. On postmortem examination, a ‘C’ shaped ligature mark was identified around the thorax, with a pressure mark in the subcutis and focal intramuscular hemorrhages, which were consistent with the ligature mark. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to external compression of the chest in a suspended position.

“…Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is most commonly defined as unexpected death from a cardiac cause, either without symptoms or within 1 to 24 hours of symptom onset [1]. SCD is frequently encountered in forensic medicine [2]. The mechanism of SCD is most often a lethal arrhythmia, and coronary artery disease is the leading cause of SCD [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiac Amyloidosis in Autopsy Case of Sudden Unexpected Death

Park

et al. 2023

A 78-year-old woman with a medical history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus who underwent surgery for lumbar stenosis died of sudden cardiac arrest two days after the operation. An autopsy was performed; however, the cause of death was not identified macroscopically. Congo red staining detected amyloid deposits in the systemic organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, thyroid, and kidney. Immunohistochemical staining revealed an immunoglobulin lambda light chain, which can cause the primary form of systemic amyloidosis. The prognosis of patients with systemic amyloidosis is directly associated with cardiac involvement. In this case, amyloid formation was noted in the myocardial interstitium and intramyocardial vascular wall, which caused luminal narrowing, subsequently causing arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease in each tissue, respectively. We present a case of primary systemic amyloidosis with severe cardiac involvement that was diagnosed after a comprehensive postmortem examination.