Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27329694

J Forensic Sci. 2016 Jun 22. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13142. [Epub ahead of print]
Forensic Features of Lethal Late-Presenting Diaphragmatic Hernias.
Thompson M1,2, Wills S2, Byard RW2,3.
Author information

Abstract
Diaphragmatic defects are a relatively common and benign finding in adults which may be congenital or secondarily acquired. The case files at Forensic Sciences South Australia were reviewed over a 10-year period from July 2005 to June 2015 for all adult (>17 years) cases in which diaphragmatic hernias were identified at postmortem examination that had either caused or contributed to death. Five cases were found: age range 49-90 years (average 67.2 years); male:female ratio 2:3. Herniated organs included the stomach (N = 3), small (N = 3) and large intestines (N = 2). Mechanisms of death involved lung compression with respiratory failure and/or mediastinal shift, and vascular compromise with gastric or intestinal infarction and/or perforation. Diaphragmatic hernias may not be identified until the time of autopsy and may be quite complex entities to evaluate due to a lack of clinical history and to difficulties in determining their origin and possible contributions to mechanisms of death.
© 2016 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
KEYWORDS:
death; diaphragm; forensic science; hernia; lung compression; perforation
PMID: 27329694 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13142
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]