1st Edition

Pathology of the Heart and Sudden Death in Forensic Medicine

    534 Pages 180 Color Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Addressing the pathology of the heart and cardiovascular system from a forensic perspective, Pathology of the Heart and Sudden Death in Forensic Investigations guides the pathologist toward the effective resolution of cases. It critically reviews pertinent facts by revisiting pathologic findings and comparing them to etiopathogenic hypotheses, proposing new ones substantiated by previously misinterpreted or ignored facts. It also presents recent findings on pediatric pathology.

    The book describes the basic functional anatomy of the heart, combining views on examination from clinical and pathological perspectives. It systematically examines patho-physiologic changes and specific heart diseases and emphasizes the benefits of communication between forensic specialists and clinicians in determining cause of death. The book also assists the forensic pathologist in the presentation and interpretation of the sequence of events in a court of law.

    Containing 150 color photographs that demonstrate forensic aspects of cardiopathology, the book offers a single source of pertinent information that is essential for every forensic pathologist to have when investigating a case.

    INTRODUCTION, Giorgio Baroldi and Vittorio Fineschi

    FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY OF THE HEART, Giorgio Baroldi
    Blood Vessels
    Myocardium
    Myocardial Interstitium

    HEART'S EXAMINATION, Giorgio Baroldi and Vittorio Fineschi
    Gross Examination
    Tissue Sampling
    Quantification of Lesions

    BASIC PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC CHANGES, Giorgio Baroldi
    Myocardium
    Fibrillar Collagen Matrix
    Extramural Coronary Arteries

    SPECIFIC HEART DISEASES AND SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH, Giorgio Baroldi and Vittorio Fineschi
    Coronary Heart Disease
    Myocarditis
    Cardiomyopathies of Unknown Nature
    Orthotopic Transplanted Human Heart
    Congestive Heart Failure
    Sudden Death In Other Cardiac Conditions

    ENDOCARDIAL LESIONS AND SUDDEN DEATH, Malcom D. Silver
    Introduction
    Infective Endocarditis
    Valvular Or Mural Thrombotic Lesions
    Myxomatous Degeneration Of Heart Valves
    Rheumatic Valvular Disease
    Sudden Death In Patients Bearing Heart Valve Prostheses
    Other Endocardial Lesions Associated With Sudden Death
    Lesions of the Tricuspid Valve
    Lesions of the Pulmonary Valve
    Lesions of the Mitral Valve
    Periaortic Lesions

    SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN, Meredith M. Silver
    Introduction
    Sudden Death Between Birth and One Year
    Sudden Death Between One Year and Adult Life
    Classification of Cardiovascular Findings Associated with
    Sudden Death in Children
    Sudden Death from Congenital Heart Disease
    Genetic and Chromosomal Associations of Congenital Heart
    Disease
    Late Sudden Death After Surgical Correction
    Sudden Death in Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
    Ebstein Anomaly of the Tricuspid Valve
    Other Surgically Treated Congenital Heart Diseases
    Eisenmenger Syndrome and Pulmonary Hypertension
    Pathology of the Heart in Cases of Sudden Death Associated
    with Congenital Heart Disease
    Sudden Death Associated with Coronary Artery Disease in
    Children
    Sudden Death in Diseases of Proximal Great Vessels and Heart
    Valves
    Sudden Death in Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathies
    Sudden Death in Cardiac Tumors and Hamartomas
    Sudden Death Due to Cardiac Rhythm Disorders
    Sudden Death in Conduction System Disorders
    Sudden Death in Atrioventricular Conduction Block and Sick
    Sinus Syndrome

    CARDIAC ALTERATIONS IN SUDDEN INFANT DEATH (SIDS), Thomas Bajanowski and Berndt Brinkmann
    Definition
    Macroscopical Findings in SID at Autopsy
    Pathological Findings and Disturbances in the Heart
    Conclusions

    SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH AND CHANNELOPATHIES, Emanuela Turillazzi, Kathryn A. Glatter, and Margherita Neri
    Introduction
    The Forensic Approach
    Disorders of the Ion Channel
    Disorders of the Heart Muscle

    INTERPRETATION OF PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN SUDDEN DEATH, Giorgio Baroldi
    Meaning of Pathological Findings in Sudden Death
    Review of Specific Conditions
    Adrenergic Stress and Related Morphopathology in Cardiology
    Coronary Heart Disease: Deficiences in Current Causal
    Hypotheses and Proposal for New Ones
    Conclusions

    CLINICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE ANATOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION OF THE HEART, Antonio L'Abbate
    Parameters of Interest
    Available Techniques
    Cardiac Anatomy
    Coronary Anatomy
    Coronary Vascular Flow
    Myocardial Perfusion
    Ventricular Function
    Intracardiac Flows
    Myocardial Metabolism
    Myocardial Tissue Typing
    Electrical Alterations

    CARDIOVASCULAR TRAUMATIC INJURIES, Emanuela Turillazzi and Cristoforo Pomara
    Introduction
    Non-Penetrating Traumas
    Penetrating Thoracic Traumas
    Iatrogenic Traumas

    CARDIAC SURGERY AND FORENSIC MEDICINE, Alberto Repossini
    Introduction
    Extracorporeal Circulation
    Myocardial Revascularization
    Ventricular Aneurysmectomy
    Valvular Surgery

    DRUG OF ABUSE AND PATHOLOGY OF THE HEART, Emanuela Turillazzi and Irene Riezzo
    Introduction
    Cocaine
    MDMA and MDEA
    Narcotic Agents
    Androgenic Anabolic Steroid
    Cannabis and Cannabinoids

    APPENDIX

    REFERENCES

    Biography

    Vittorio Fineschi, Giorgio Baroldi, Malcolm D. Silver

    "Fineschi, Baroldi, and Silver filled up a gap in the forensic literature with this book…it can be recommended without reserve as a reference work especially for forensic pathologists."

    —T. Fracasso in International Journal of Legal Medicine

    “This book gives a profound insight into a multitude of cardiopathological aspects not only from a forensic perspective but also an overall perspective of death investigation. It is of practical relevance for all those involved in post mortem examinations and it may be of special interest to clinicians with a focus on cardiology.”

    —Judith Schröer, Specialist in Forensic Medicine, Germany