Forensic science international
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Nitrous oxide is a popular inhalation anesthetic-analgesic agent. Its euphoric action and its availability have led to its abuse. ⋯ The deceased was a hospital worker who had access to the hospital supply of nitrous oxide. His death was due to hypoxemia and asphyxiation, secondary to nitrous oxide inhalation.
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Comment Letter Case Reports
Isolated basilar traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage: an observer's 25 year re-evaluation of the pathogenetic possibilities.
This paper was inspired by Leadbeatter's recent review [1] on the subject, and consists primarily of a recapitulation of this author's observations in the 25 years since publication of his paper [2] describing three cases of traumatic basilar subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from direct trauma to the upper lateral neck. Those observations include personal experience and case reports personally communicated or published. Leadbeatter's analysis makes the following three salient points to which the author considers a response to be appropriate: 1. ⋯ Accordingly, empirical factors have to be considered for a diagnosis in most cases. Four diagnostic criteria have been established for a firm conclusion of death due to traumatic basilar subarachnoid hemorrhage. 3. While over half of traumatic basilar subarachnoid hemorrhages involve a completely different site of trauma, and many indirect mechanisms of injury may come into play, the author still considers that in the commonly observed syndrome as described by him in 1971, direct trauma to the vertebral artery is the primary causative factor.
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The different concepts of brain death are subject to controversial debate. It is outlined that only the whole-brain concept, that is the irreversible loss of all functions of the entire brain, is consistent with the death of man. ⋯ It is shown that apnea testing must be accompanied by blood-gas analysis, as it may take 15 min for the PaCO2 to achieve the desired level of 8 kPa. The problem with CNS-depressing drugs and their metabolites interfering with the clinical diagnosis--e.g. sedatives, barbiturates, opioids--is described, and it is stressed that, in these cases, the cerebral panangiography (digital subtraction angiography with catheter tip in the aortic arch) is the gold standard for the final and definite proof of brain death.
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'Brain death' is defined pathophysiologically as intracranial circulatory arrest. The morphological features of brain death include cerebral edema, absence of reactive changes, and--after an interval of 15-36 h--the morphological hallmarks of respirator brain: edema, global softening of the brain, dusky discoloration of the gray matter, and often necrotic and sloughing tonsillar herniations. ⋯ These issues are elucidated and their bearing on forensic practice is illustrated by several real-life situations. Thus, neuropathological examination in the case of clinically diagnosed brain death is--without doubt--necessary in order to answer several questions often or regularly expected.
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The increasing importance of legal and ethical questions in palliative medicine and euthanasia due to the increased technical possibilities for extending life will be considered. In palliative medicine, the choice of the best therapy will be discussed, especially in the case of oncological diseases. Here, consideration of the prospects of success, for example, in chemotherapy, is faced with partly serious side-effects. ⋯ A dispute concerning the new legal regulation of active euthanasia in the Netherlands of February 1993 is also discussed. There, around 2% of all deaths per year result from active termination of life and also cases where persons are not able to consent. This also has enormous consequences for the position of the physician.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)