Abstract

BLANCO PAMPIN, J.  and  GARCIA RIVERO, S.. Massive pulmonary haemorrhage presented as sudden neonatal death. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2003, n.32, pp.63-69. ISSN 1988-611X.

Massive pulmonary haemorrhage in newborns is a catastrophic event with a high rate of mortality. A case of unexpected death in a four-day-old female newborn, who died after a period without previous pathological signs and clinical manifestations, is described. She had suffered severe asphyxia atbirth. Suddenly, she presented increasing dyspnea and haemoptysis. After an unsuccessful attempt at resuscitation, she died 1 hour after admission to the Emergency Department. At autopsy a massive and diffuse intrapulmonary haemorrhage was found. On gross examination the lungs were heavy, fleshy, and of normal size. They had several dark-haemorrhagic areas. Fresh blood was seen in the trachea and large bronchi. Microscopically, a combined form of pulmonary haemorrhage (intra-alveolar and interstitial) was observed. Multiple hepatic and renal haemorrhages were also present. Toxicological investigation was negative. During necropsy, no other pathological features were noted. On the basis of the obstetric history and anatomopathological findings, we conclude that the cause of death was pulmonary haemorrhage attributed to intrapartum anoxia.

Keywords : Foetal distress; Forensic pathology; Intrapartum anoxia; Pulmonary haemorrhage disease; Sudden neonatal death.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )