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Death by fecaloma
- Source :
- Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology. 18:201-204
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021.
-
Abstract
- A 59-year-old man with a history of cerebral palsy and dextroscoliosis died in a group home. He required supplemental oxygen and had no bowel movement for weeks prior to death. At autopsy, the abdomen was markedly distended and there were flexion contractures of the legs. Postmortem computed tomography revealed a dilated digestive tract and fecal loading in the sigmoid and rectum, marked upwardly displaced diaphragm and scoliosis. On internal examination, the diaphragm was displaced rostrally and the rectosigmoid colon contained 2.5 kg of fecaloma with two rectal fecaliths. Severe scoliosis with marked reduction in volume of thoracic cavity was present. Microscopic examination revealed chronic aspiration pneumonia and chronic pulmonary hypertension. Overall, four factors led to respiratory failure: fecaloma; cerebral palsy; scoliosis; and chronic aspiration pneumonia. Based on clinicopathological correlation, the cause of death was determined to be a combination of these factors, and the key acute factor was the fecaloma.
Details
- ISSN :
- 15562891 and 1547769X
- Volume :
- 18
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........810c8f5b8acf98435f5cf730d411ce2a