| Abstract [eng] |
Introduction. Cardiac tamponade is a complication with a high risk of mortality. It is one of the causes of sudden cardiac death, the fatal outcome of which is usually determined at autopsy. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the causes of death from cardiac tamponade, risk factors, volumes of blood in the pericardial cavity, which led to death. Methods. A retrospective analysis of the autopsies of the State Forensic Medicine Service from 01.01.2013 - 01.12.2019 was performed. 100 cases where cardiac tamponade was a direct complication leading to death were selected. In the autopsies, depersonalized data on the subjects' demographic indicators, causes of cardiac tamponade, blood volume found in the pericardial cavity were selected and analyzed. Results. Cardiac tamponade was found in 59% of men and 41% of women. The average age was 69.58 (±12.89) years. The average amount of blood in the pericardial cavity was 476.21 (±169.77) ml. Most often (87%) liquid blood and blood clots were found in the pericardial cavity. Two main causes of fatal cardiac tamponade have been identified: myocardial infarction-induced heart wall rupture and aortic dissection wall rupture. When cardiac tamponade occurred due to rupture of the heart wall caused by myocardial infarction, the volume of blood in the pericardial cavity was 440.46 (±131.83) ml, due to dissection of the ascending aorta - 551.16 (±213.59) ml. When myocardial infarction with wall rupture was detected (n=67), the most common (28%) was myocardial infarction of the posterior wall of the heart's left ventricle. Cardiac tamponade due to rupture of the aortic dissection wall (n=33) was mostly (29%) found in the ascending aorta. Conclusions. Cardiac tamponade usually occurs in older people (over 60 years old), more often in men. In the case of myocardial infarction, the rupture of the heart is more often found in the posterior wall of the left ventricle. Aortic dissection rupture is more often found in the ascending part of the aorta. |
