Homicide victims and mechanisms in Lithuania from 2004 to 2016.

A retrospective analysis of 2000 intentional homicide cases from the State Forensic Medicine Service (Vilnius, Lithuania) was carried out in order to evaluate the portrait of homicide victims and mechanisms of death between 2004 and 2016. The definition of intentional homicide appears to be quite straightforward, as a homicide occurs when one person's cause of death can be attributed to another one. Moreover, homicide is accomplished by conscious, active, intentional, or unintentional activities or inaction. All included cases of homicide were qualified as intentional murder. Children rarely become victims of intentional homicide. The group of child intentional murder made only 4.2% of all homicide cases. Seventy-three percent of homicide victims were male. The female victims were older than male and were murdered using a larger variety of objects (p < 0.001). Heavily alcohol-intoxicated victims were murdered using more traumatic affliction by sharp, stabbing-cutting objects (p < 0.001). The largest number of traumatic afflictions was associated with using a blunt object (p < 0.001). Lithuania differs from other European countries in terms of death by shooting: while 13% of homicides resulted from gunshot wounds in Europe, in Lithuania, only 5.6% of homicides did. This fact can be attributed to a relatively lower firearm ownership in Lithuania. This research is the first study that evaluates homicide in Lithuania based on autopsy findings. This study is highly important for homicide investigation tactics, as it emphasizes the portrait of the victim, providing valuable information about the most common mechanism of death, used weapons and traumatic afflictions for the law enforcement agencies.

Traumatic spleen rupture diagnosed during postmortem dissection: A STROBE-compliant retrospective study.

Spleen is typically injured in blunt abdominal trauma. Spleen injuries make 42% of all blunt abdominal injuries. The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective assessment of the cases of acute and subacute isolated traumatic spleen ruptures.A retrospective study performed on 50 patients, whose cause of death was isolated spleen rupture and bleeding into the abdominal cavity.An acute spleen rupture was diagnosed in 47 cases, whereas the rest 3 cases demonstrated a subacute rupture. In cases of acute spleen rupture, the mean weight of spleen was 309.6 g, whereas in 3 cases of subacute rupture the mean weight of the organ achieved 710 g. The mean weight of spleen in the control group with no spleen rupture was 144.7 g.Recording of the cases of isolated acute and subacute traumatic spleen ruptures and morphological assessment of them are important in forensic pathology science and in clinical practice as well.

Homicide Rates in Lithuania.

Homicide rate in Lithuania between 2004 and 2013 decreased and reached an average of 6.7 per 100,000 people in 2013. The data regarding forensic autopsies of intentional homicide victims were obtained from the State Forensic Medicine Service. Spearman's correlation test was used to assess trends in the homicide rates. A significant correlation was observed between homicide distribution and the following variables: Lithuania's gross domestic product (r = -0.85, p = 0.003), the number of alcohol intoxication cases of victims (r = 0.97, p < 0.05). After regression model adjustments, these variables remained significantly associated with the homicide distribution (p < 0.05). 73% of victims were men, with a mean age of 45.5 ± 15. Alcohol intoxication was present in 58% of victims. 66% of homicides were carried out indoors, 57% in urban area. The presented findings help decide which prevention programs may be the most effective in homicide rate reduction.

Sudden deaths from positional asphyxia: A case report.

RATIONALE: Positional asphyxia is a rare cause of sudden death and a difficult diagnosis, based mostly on the circumstances of the incident, along with particular external and internal findings, frequent in asphyxia (signs of sudden death). PATIENT CONCERNS: In this report, we are describing one case of adult who was found positioned in a way that led to eventual asphyxiation. DIAGNOSES: The final diagnosis of positional asphyxia was determined after the autopsy. INTERVENTIONS: In a head-down position, gravitation and mechanical forces lead to an increased pressure on the diaphragm from the weight of the abdominal organs. Abdominal breathing, and later, chest breathing were hindered by the raised diaphragm and the difference between abdominal and breathing pressures. OUTCOMES: It is known that death from positional asphyxia can emerge in several ways, such as the external breathing suppression when the victim's torso is compressed or deformed. LESSONS: Therefore, the current criteria for positional asphyxia are based on the obstruction of normal gas exchange caused by the body position, the impossibility to move to another position, and the exclusion of other causes of death. The forensic medical examination must also be started at the scene of the incident.

Importance of effusion of blood under the dura mater in forensic medicine: A STROBE - compliant retrospective study.

Subdural hemorrhage is commonly associated with mechanical brain injury and has a correspondingly high mortality rate. Subdural hematomas may immediately provoke symptoms or may be initially asymptomatic, with further symptoms evolving rapidly and fatally.The data regarding forensic autopsy of victims were obtained from The State Forensic Medicine Service of Lithuania between the years 2013 and 2016. A retrospective study was performed including 110 patients, whose cause of death was subdural hemorrhage. 95% confidence intervals were calculated.It was calculated, that in cases of sudden death, after subdural hemorrhage was diagnosed, a higher concentration of ethyl alcohol in blood (mean 2.22 ±â€Š1.3%) demanded a smaller amount of blood under the dura matter (mean 81.6 ±â€Š60.5 g) in order for the patient to die. It was also noted that hospitalized patients with subdural hemorrhage had a smaller concentration of blood ethyl alcohol (mean 1.33 ±â€Š1%) and a larger amount of blood under the dura (mean 135.6 ±â€Š82.9 g).Due to the toxic effect of ethyl alcohol, even a small amount (81.6 ±â€Š60.5 g) of blood under the dura matter can determine a sudden death.