Fatal Splenic Rupture Following Heimlich Maneuver

Abstract

The most effective resuscitative procedure in choking by foreign bodies is the Heimlich maneuver, described for the first time by Henry Heimlich (1974) and recognized by the US Surgeon General (1985) as the "only method that should be used for the treatment of choking from foreign body airway obstruction." If performed correctly, this lifesaving maneuver is associated with rare complications, of which the most frequent are rib fractures and gastric or esophagus perforations. Other rare traumatic injuries such as pneumomediastinum, aortic valve cusp rupture, diaphragmatic herniation, jejunum perforation, hepatic rupture, or mesenteric laceration have been described.However, we are unaware of previous reports of splenic rupture after Heimlich maneuver. We present an interesting case of fatal hemoperitoneum due to a hilar laceration of the spleen following a correctly performed Heimlich maneuver.

Histological Diagnosis of Myocardial Sarcoidosis in a Fatal Fall from a Height

“…In conclusion, we do believe that our brief report is a good example of the powerful additional information that histological and immunohistochemical investigations of the main organs can offer for reconstructing the manner of death and the dynamics of the event in falls from a height and other traumatic deaths (18–21). Nonetheless, histology data should be considered just a piece of the complex puzzle that must be analyzed in the reconstruction of the event, which requires the integration of medical, psychiatric, and social history of the victim, circumstantial details, death scene investigation data, and autopsy findings.…”

Postoperative Airway Obstruction by a Bone Fragment

“…Alternative rescue methods to support removal of the obstructing foreign airway body, such as the Heimlich manoeuvre [6] or the Table manoeuvre [7], whereby external force is applied to the thorax, appear to be prone for complications and should be restricted to cases of severe airway obstruction where the patient is unable to breathe or cough and when an immediate direct removal appears impossible.…”

Incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia following Heimlich maneuver

“…The increased abdominal or thoracic pressure applied during HM may lead to multiple complications, as summarized in Table 1. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Ours is the second reported case of a diaphragmatic hernia resulting from HM. 19 This patient's hospital course was complicated by multiple surgeries, intubations, and overall functional decline.…”