The value of subendocardial haemorrhages as an indicator of exsanguination and brain injury--a retrospective forensic autopsy study.

INTRODUCTION

Subendocardial hemorrhages (SE) have been associated with multiple causes of violent and non violent deaths in forensic autopsies such as fatal exsanguination, brain injury and intoxications.

METHODS

The presented retrospective study investigates the overall incidence and various causes by an analysis of a total of 1331 forensic autopsies based on autopsy reports.

RESULTS

The results show that head injury and significant blood loss alone or in combination are the main mechanisms of death associated with SE. The incidences of SE were 50% in exsanguination, 80% in combined exsanguination and head injury, and 31% in solitary head trauma.

DISCUSSION: On the basis of the study results it can be concluded, that SE are important indicative signs for both fatal exsanguination and brain injury at medico-legal autopsies.