Post mortem diagnosis of fatal obstructive sleep apnoea

Robinson, Grace; Stradling, John; Davies, Robert J. O.; Roberts, I S D

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2559.2004.01940.x

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Cases without a history of OSA during life present even more of a problem, although the diagnosis may be suggested by the circumstances of the death. These deaths will always occur in bed, usually in the supine position, and details of the exact position of the body are vital (this was provided for only nine of 40 cases found dead in bed in this study). OSA should also only be given as a cause of death when all other causes have been excluded, including by histology and toxicology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Postmortem examination in the morbidly obese

et al. 2013

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Toxicology is important, because consumption of alcohol or other sedatives exacerbates the condition. Criteria for giving the cause of death at postmortem as OSA are given in Table (modified from Robinson et al …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postmortem examination in the morbidly obese

et al. 2013

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“…It has been noted that long QT and asthma may be associated, which could provide an explanation for some sudden deaths, particularly in the context of beta-agonist use [300]. Sleep apnoea is a complex disorder including a component of respiratory obstruction [301], which can be associated with sudden death [302,303]. Odine's curse is a form of sleep apnoea due to a central nervous system, brainstem, abnormality [304].…”

Section: Respiratory Causes Of Sudden Deathmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sudden adult death

Langlois

2009

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

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In the investigation of sudden death in adults, channelopathies, such as long QT syndrome, have risen to the fore in the minds of forensic pathologists in recent years. Examples of these disorders are touched upon in this review as an absence of abnormal findings at postmortem examination is characteristic and the importance of considering the diagnosis lies in the heritable nature of these conditions. Typically, a diagnosis of a possible channelopathy is evoked as an explanation for a 'negative autopsy' in a case of apparent sudden natural death. However, the one potential adverse effect of this approach is that subtle causes of sudden death may be overlooked. The intention of this article is to review and discuss potential causes of sudden adult death (mostly natural) that should be considered before resorting to a diagnosis of possible channelopathy. Nonetheless, it becomes apparent that many of the potential causes of sudden death can have a genetic basis. Thus, it becomes an important consideration that there may be a genetic basis to sudden death that extends beyond the negative autopsy.

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“…The overall mortality associated with OSA is difficult to pinpoint, as indicated by a recent postmortem report [46]. However, data have emerged of an association between premature cardiovascular mortality and OSA.…”

Section: Mortalitymentioning

confidence: 97%

The link between obstructive sleep apnea and heart failure: Underappreciated opportunity for treatment

Naughton

2006

Curr Heart Fail Rep

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a newly recognized risk factor for the development of systemic hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and congestive heart failure. Mechanisms responsible for these links include OSA-related hypoxemia and arousal from sleep-induced increased sympathetic activity, large negative intrathoracic pressure-induced increased left ventricular transmural pressure gradient and impaired vagal activity, plus formation of oxygen radicals. Secondary phenomena include increased platelet aggregability, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction with reduced endogenous nitric oxide production. Safe, nonpharmacologic, nonsurgical therapy, namely continuous positive airway pressure, can attenuate OSA and improve cardiac function and quality of life. Searching for signs or symptoms of OSA from the patient (or bed partner), namely loud habitual snoring, apneas, nocturnal choking, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, or cardiovascular disease which is difficult to control, may reward the curious physician with another treatment avenue.

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Post mortem diagnosis of fatal obstructive sleep apnoea

Cited by 6 publications

References 9 publications

Postmortem examination in the morbidly obese

Postmortem examination in the morbidly obese

Sudden adult death

The link between obstructive sleep apnea and heart failure: Underappreciated opportunity for treatment

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