The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology
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Am J Forensic Med Pathol · Sep 2001
Review Case ReportsSmall bowel perforation as a complication of microsurgical lumbar diskectomy. A case report and brief review of the literature.
Ventral perforation is a rare complication of lumbar diskectomy. Injury to retroperitoneal vessels is the most common serious complication to such perforation. Ventral perforation with damage to the bowel is rarely reported. ⋯ The case illustrates the importance of awareness of bowel injury as a possible complication of diskectomy. Possible pre- and postoperative considerations are also discussed. A brief review of the literature on bowel injuries after this common surgical procedure is also given.
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Am J Forensic Med Pathol · Sep 2001
Case ReportsUnique case of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning in the absence of a combustible fossil fuel.
A 37-year-old man died as a result of exposure to carbon monoxide within an apartment. An investigation of the apartment showed no gas appliances or gas supply to the apartment and no evidence of any combustion event to any part of the apartment or roof space. ⋯ Heating to the apartment was found to be via an electrical storage heater, the examination of which revealed that the cast-iron core and insulating material showed evidence of heat damage with significant areas devoid of carbon. This electric storage heater is hypothesized to be the source of carbon for the fatal production of carbon monoxide within the apartment.