Pulmonary Fat Embolism — A Prospective Study within the Forensic Autopsy Collective of the Republic of Iceland

• Published in: Journal of Forensic Sciences
• Main Authors: Voisard, Matthias X., Schweitzer, Wolf, Jackowski, Christian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2012
• Subjects: Genetics; Pathology and Forensic Medicine; Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12003; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2F1556-4029.12003; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1556-4029.12003

Abstract In the last century, studies established the origin of pulmonary fat embolism ( PFE ) and identified mechanical trauma as main source for PFE . This prospective study focused on determining a possible influence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ), in the context of an aging population, on the occurrence of PFE . Lung tissue samples from 256 bodies were examined using the twin‐edged knife technique without preliminary fixation but after staining with Sudan III . PFE grading was determined according to Falzi and performed at a 10× magnification. For statistical analysis, bodies were grouped by age, gender, and putrefaction and categorized following whether they had experienced trauma, CPR , the combination of both, or no mechanical impact. There was a significant correlation of trauma, CPR , and the combination of both to PFE but no noticeable influence of gender or putrefaction. An age over 70 years promotes a PFE due to resuscitation.