Abstract

MARTINEZ-GARCIA, P.; SALGUERO VILLADIEGO, M.  and  GUTIERREZ AMARES, M.L.. A case of embolism caused by cholesterol crystals secondary to thrombolysis. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2003, n.34, pp.49-55. ISSN 1988-611X.

Traditionally Forensic medicine has had to explain the reasons for demise in occasional natural deaths; especially those cases in which death occurred suddenly and the subject enjoyed real or apparent good health. Since the decade of the 80s, the number of deaths autopsied in the course of Judicial Formalities has increased slowly at the expense of deaths which occur as a consequence of complications in applied treatments and possible medical negligence. Embolism caused by cholesterol crystals is an infrecuent entity, which appears principally in men older than 60 with widespread arteriosclerosis after angiographic procedures, vascular surgery, or, varely, upon the use of anticoagulative oral treatment, heparina or thrombolytics. The rareness of suc a case and its fatal consequences may be difficult for a layman to comprehend, a fact that easily leads to a charge of possible malpraxis. In the present work we explain a case studied by us after judicial charges, detailing the clinical picture, macro and microscopic examination and a review of the literature.

Keywords : Thrombolysis; cholesterol embolization; Malpractice.

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