Sudden death due to right fallopian tube tear in ectopic pregnancy: an autopsy-based case report

Abstract

Ectopic pregnancy complications, particularly those that cause rupture, can lead to sudden and critical situations. Sudden death cases should be approached as unnatural deaths until proven otherwise through scientific investigations. An autopsy is a key method conducted by a forensic and medicolegal pathologist for establishing the cause of death.

This case report presents a suspected case of unnatural death being investigated by the police. A young, unmarried woman living alone was found dead in her room, with no clear medical history. A forensic autopsy was performed to determine the cause of death. The findings revealed an enlarged uterus, a tear in the right fallopian tube, and a blood human chorionic gonadotropin level of 5,224.07 mIU/mL. Supported by histopathological findings through an overview that shows the existence of tubal ectopic pregnancy. Moreover, severe internal bleeding in the abdominal cavity due to a tear in the right fallopian tube was noted, which led to hemorrhagic shock caused by a 1,946.7 ml blood loss. Thus, the patient experienced multiple-organ failure, indicated by lung edema and kidney and stomach necrosis observed during a histopathological examination. The victim’s sudden death was a result of a natural cause, which was determined after eliminating other possibilities.

Keywords

autopsy / cause of death / fallopian tubes / forensic pathology / ectopic pregnancy

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