Mu Jiao, Zhang Ji, Liu Liang, Dong Hongmei
Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China
Med Sci Law. 2016 Apr;56(2):138-41. doi: 10.1177/0025802415575590. Epub 2015 Mar 9.
Commotio cordis is a rare and fatal mechano-electric arrhythmogenic syndrome, occurring mainly during sports activities. The present study describes two cases of sudden death due to homicidal commotio cordis caused violence from an intimate partner. The two decedents were both young women. They suffered from physical abuse by their intimate partner and collapsed immediately after being punched in the precordium. Electrocardiograms were recorded at the hospital and showed ventricular fibrillation in one case. An autopsy was performed in each case, and no structural cardiac damage, evident lesions of other internal organs or underlying diseases were found. Combined with the negative toxicological analysis, it was concluded that the cause of death was commotio cordis due to a blunt force to the anterior chest. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no published report on commotio cordis caused by physical abuse from an intimate partner. The accurate diagnosis of the cause of death is emphasised, as it is important for judicial fairness.
心脏震荡是一种罕见的致命性机械性电致心律失常综合征，主要发生在体育活动期间。本研究描述了两起因亲密伴侣暴力导致的杀人心脏震荡猝死病例。两名死者均为年轻女性。她们遭受了亲密伴侣的身体虐待，在胸前区被击打后立即倒地。在医院记录了心电图，其中一例显示心室颤动。对每例进行了尸检，未发现心脏结构损伤、其他内脏明显病变或基础疾病。结合毒理学分析阴性结果，得出死亡原因是前胸钝性外力导致的心脏震荡。据作者所知，尚无关于亲密伴侣身体虐待导致心脏震荡的公开报道。强调准确诊断死亡原因，因为这对司法公正很重要。
