Citation

Bayer R, Baumann S, Federbusch M, Dreßler J. Rechtsmedizin 2022; 32(6): 489-493.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00194-022-00575-z

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A 90-year-old man died due to prolonged bleeding to death from a superficial leg vein at the patella, opened with a razor blade and subsequent manipulation. It was probably a branch of the anterior accessory saphenous vein. There was a misjudgement during the first external examination of the corpse and the physician assumed a gastrointestinal bleeding as the cause of death. Police officers at the scene did not share this opinion. A pre-existing varicosis was beneficial. The use of anticoagulants or hints for a pre-existing or acquired coagulation disorder could not be proven or determined. As a farewell letter was present and no third-party violence or an intoxication was involved, an extraordinary suicidal event can be reasonably assumed. The findings at the scene and autopsy results with extensive additional investigations are reported. © 2022, The Author(s).

Language: de

Keywords

human; suicide; male; aged; autopsy; case report; police; cause of death; clinical article; bleeding; diagnostic error; gastrointestinal hemorrhage; varicosis; Article; Self inflicted; very elderly; Atypical suicide; vein injury; saphenous vein; peripheral vein; Bleeding out; leg vein; Sharp violence; skin blood vessel; Varicosis; vein