International journal of legal medicine
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Postmortem interrogation of cardiac implantable electrical devices (CIED) in autopsy is not routinely performed. Thus, it remains unclear whether an interrogation might clarify time and cause of death. ⋯ Interrogation of CIED revealed potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias in 9 of 70 patients investigated and enabled valid estimation of the day of death in 15 patients. We therefore conclude that routinely performed postmortem CIED interrogation may clarify time and cause of death.