The impact of multiphase post-mortem CT- angiography (MPMCTA) for investigating fatal outcomes of medical interventions

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2017 Source:Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging Author(s): Axel Heinemann, Silke Grabherr, Fabrice Dedouit, Krzysztof Wozniak, Florian Fischer, Holger Wittig, Jochen Grimm, Hermann Vogel Post-mortem imaging - predominantly computed tomography (PMCT) - has proven its suitability in reported casework experience of suspected fatal medical errors to become an integral part of routine pre-autopsy forensic investigations. However, its role in mortality analysis within the context of hospital quality management is still under consideration. Post-mortem imaging combined with angiography procedures can effectively assist forensic autopsy investigations of unexpected and periprocedural deaths as they both offer a significant improvement in documenting medical complications. They help to identify misplaced medical devices, sources of haemorrhages, vascular patency, and unimpaired perfusion after general and cardiovascular surgery, complications after transvascular catheter-directed interventions or distinctive and potentially contributing features of vascular anatomy. Complications in transplant surgery demonstrate the significant impact of multiphase CT angiography (MPMCTA) as a standardised method of post-mortem opacification of the vasculature in the evaluation of bleeding complications following complex vascular surgery. Complicated transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVI) serve as examples for the application of MPM...
Source: Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging - Category: Radiology Source Type: research