Determination of time of death by blinded post-mortem interrogation of cardiac implantable electrical devices.

Postmortal interrogation of cardiac implantable electrical devices (CIED) may contribute to the determination of time of death in forensic medicine. Recent studies aimed to improve estimation of time of death by combining findings from autopsy, CIED interrogation and patients´ medical history. CIED from deceased undergoing forensic autopsy were included, if time of death remained unclear after forensic assessment. CIED explanted from deceased with known time of death were analysed as a control cohort. CIED were sent to our device interrogation lab and underwent analysis blinded for autopsy findings, medical history and police reports. The accuracy of time of death determination and the accuracy of time of death in the control cohort served as primary outcome. A total of 87 CIED were analysed. The determination of time of death was possible in 54 CIED (62%, CI 52-72%). The accuracy of the estimated time of death was 92.3% in the control cohort. Certain CIED type and manufacturers were associated with more successful determination. Blinded postmortal analysis enables a valid determination of the time of death in the majority of CIED. Analysis of explanted CIED in a cardiological core lab is feasible and should be implemented in forensic medicine.

Make-up and love bites: two reports about exceptional cases of self-inflicted "injuries".

Self-inflicted injuries and their differentiation from inflicted injuries may have severe legal implications. The detection of these injuries is an important task in clinical forensic medicine. We present two cases of skin discolorations caused by using make-up and suction of the skin which have only rarely been reported. In the first case a 19-year-old woman asserted she was punched against her left clavicle and her right eye by a perpetrator, and that during the following forced sexual intercourse she had been bitten on the neck. On medicolegal examination 3 days later dark blue, shimmering discolorations at her right eyebrow, the left side of the neck and the left clavicle were seen. At first sight these discolorations appeared as bruises; however, they could easily be removed by a simple wipe with a finger. In the second reported case a 23-year-old woman reported she had been assaulted by two men who forcefully pressed her against a wall, partially undressed her and forced her to touch and rub one man's penis. Medicolegal examination 32 h after the incident revealed several round to oval shaped, reddish to brown discolorations on both of her upper arms resembling so-called love bites created by suction. In both cases the preliminary investigation by the public prosecutor were closed. However, case 1 is still subject to legal investigations due to false incrimination. Self-infliction of injuries should always be considered in forensic examinations, even if they do not follow the classical pattern.

An autopsy approach to bolus deaths.

BACKGROUND: The term "bolus death" or "cafe coronary" refers to a misplaced larynx or laryngeal inlet by foreign bodies, in most cases by unchewed pieces of food such as meat, sausage, or fruit. The pathophysiologic mechanism of death is still debatable - sudden reflex cardiac arrests and asphyxial suffocations are implicated. In particular, children, alcoholics, and persons with brain-related damages belong to this risk group. A defective dentition is also associated with the risk of bolus deaths. AIM: The aim of the study was to supplement existing literature by evaluating cases of bolus deaths and determining the most likely mechanism of death in a large autopsy sample. MATERIAL: Among 31,647 autopsies, 59 cases of cafe coronary syndrome were identified and evaluated: 38 male adults and 21 female adults between the ages of 26 and 89 years. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of autopsies performed in the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Rostock (1990-2014) and Munich (1990-1999) was conducted. Autopsy findings, circumstances of death, police investigations, preexisting conditions, dentition, and toxicological investigations were recorded. Then, based on the presence or absence of selected findings and surrounding circumstances, conclusions on the mechanism of death were drawn. RESULTS: In eighty-six percent (86%), boluses of meat and sausage or meat-like chunks were observed. Of the forty-nine victims, 22 (42%) had elevated blood alcohol levels (>0.5‰) with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of >0.73‰ to <3.99‰. Of the nonalcoholized decedents, 63% had neurological disorders and 11% had preexisting cardiac conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Detecting potential bolus events upon autopsy and the resulting mechanism of nonnatural deaths are of great importance. Therefore, the medical history, resuscitation protocol, and detailed description of the scene of death are essential. Upon autopsy, the type and position as well as size and weight of the bolus and dental status of the victims should be documented in a standardized manner. Additional toxicological investigations are necessary.

Disaster victim identification-experiences of the "Autobahn A19" disaster.

The chain reaction pile-up on the multilane highway ("Autobahn") A 19 in April 2011 was regarded as the most severe traffic accident within the last 20 years in Germany. The situation worsened when 34 of the 83 involved vehicles caught fire. As a result of this crash, 8 high-grade heat-damaged victims were found. The victim identification algorithm of the IDKO (Identification Commission of the German Federal Office of Criminal Investigation) was applied as the standard tool for forensic mass disaster evaluation. This approach included inspection of the body at the scene, post-mortem CT-scan with 3-D reconstruction, and full autopsy with toxicological examinations and DNA-analyses. As a result of the investigations we were able to identify all 8 victims. Independent of successful victim identification according to IDKO standards, the exact sequence of events and cause of death remained unclear in some of the victims.