• Peter Mygind Leth, Lukasz Kamionka, and Nikolaj Vinther.
• Syddansk Universitet, Retsmedicinsk Institut, Odense C. pleth@health.sdu.dk
• Ugeskr. Laeg. 2006 Nov 13; 168 (46): 3998-4000.

IntroductionFatal pulmonary thromboembolism is a relatively common autopsy finding. The aim of this investigation is to describe the magnitude of the problem in an autopsy material and factors of prophylactic importance and to discuss the importance of the autopsy.MaterialDeceased with lethal pulmonary thromboembolism diagnosed by forensic autopsy at the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark in 1992-2005, in total 58 individuals. Data were collected from autopsy- plus police reports and medical records.MethodDescriptive case-only investigation.ResultsThe pulmonary embolism had in none of the cases been diagnosed before death. Two of the individuals in this investigation were healthy young females who used oral contraceptives, and one was a psychiatric patient who died from pulmonary embolism after five days of physical restraint.ConclusionThe diagnosis is sometimes not made before the autopsy. The decreasing autopsy frequency may result in a lack of diagnosis of pulmonary embolism as cause of death.

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