Spontaneous Fatal Hæmorrhage Caused by Varicose Veins

Endovenous laser photocoagulation (EVLP) for varicose veins

“…The sequelae include chronic pain and edema, recurrent cellulitis and dermatitis, pigmentation, lipodermatosclerosis, non-healing leg ulcers (ulcer cruris), cutaneous infarction (atrophie blanche), hemorrhage from varices, superficial thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and even malignant transformation [5]. Bleeding from varices of the lower extremities resulted in 23 fatalities in England and Wales in 1971 [6]. Patients with varicose veins may present with a variety of non-specific symptoms.…”

Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm and Sudden Death

“…Minor injuries to the legs in the elderly may result in lethal hemorrhage from dilated subcutaneous varices (3,4). Varicosities develop because of valvular incompetence and failure of the peripheral musculovenous pump and are found in 10–40% of Western men and 25–33% of Western women, with the saphenous vein most often affected.…”

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in a Case of Fatal Varicose Vein Rupture

“…5 If this pressure becomes great enough, the varicose vein can rupture. [1][2][3][4][5]7,8 Nonetheless, the rupture of varicose veins is a relatively rare phenomenon. When it does occur, the resultant bleeding is normally of low pressure and is not accompanied by any notable pulsation.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] In such cases, the victim is generally found in a pool of blood, and an examination of the scene strongly suggests violent death. 1 To date, the bloodstain patterns in these fatal cases have not yet been described.…”