Biomedical subjects

Peter Mygind Leth

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Mygind Leth.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Fatal pulmonary thromoembolism].

INTRODUCTION: Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism is a relatively common autopsy finding. The aim of this investigation is to describe the magnitude of the problem in an autopsy material and factors of prophylactic importance and to discuss the importance of the autopsy. MATERIAL: Deceased with lethal pulmonary thromboembolism diagnosed by forensic autopsy at the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark in 1992-2005, in total 58 individuals. Data were collected from autopsy- plus police reports and medical records. METHOD: Descriptive case-only investigation. RESULTS: The pulmonary embolism had in none of the cases been diagnosed before death. Two of the individuals in this investigation were healthy young females who used oral contraceptives, and one was a psychiatric patient who died from pulmonary embolism after five days of physical restraint. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis is sometimes not made before the autopsy. The decreasing autopsy frequency may result in a lack of diagnosis of pulmonary embolism as cause of death.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Ethylene glycol poisoning.

Ethylene glycol (EG) can be found in many agents, such as antifreeze. Ingestion of EG may cause serious poisoning. Adults are typically exposed when EG is ingested as a cheap substitute for ethanol or in suicide-attempts. Children may be exposed by accidental ingestion caused by decantation of EG to unlabeled bottles. EG has in itself a low toxicity, but is in vivo broken down to four organic acids: glycoaldehyde, glycolic acid, glyoxylic acid and oxalic acid. The metabolites are cell toxins that cause central nervous system depression, and cardio-pulmonary and renal failure. Glycolic acid causes severe acidosis, and oxalate is precipitated as calcium oxalate in the kidneys and other tissues. We present five case reports of fatal EG-poisoning, and review the literature concerning clinical presentation and diagnosis, pathological findings, treatment and prevention.

Acidosis↗

PubMed2005

Forensic medical examination of refugees who claim to have been tortured.

The United Nations Convention against torture prohibits repatriation of refugees if there is reason to believe they will be tortured on return to their country. A history of torture is therefore an important factor in making a case for asylum. In this study, the results of the medical examinations of 59 torture victims investigated at the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Denmark, 1996-2002, are presented and discussed. Variables including age, sex, education, health, torture methods, condition of confinement, torture aftereffects, and findings at the forensic examination were registered in a database (Paradox) and analyzed. In 70%, aftereffects of torture could be documented. These included scars after fixation, burns, incisions, or flogging. Symptoms and signs from joints, muscles, and nerves were common in victims who had been suspended. Many of the victims of phalanga had painful feet and signs of walking impairment. A majority of the victims suffered from posttraumatic stress syndrome. An independent medical report offers an opportunity to evaluate and elaborate the story told by the victim and should be used in disputed cases. We have a duty to protect refugees against torture.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage].

Massive subarachnoid hemorrhage may occur on a traumatic basis. The injury is most often sustained by a blow with a clenched fist against the posterolateral part of the cranial basis, but the injury may also occur in relation to an accident. The condition is rare, most often occurring in alcohol intoxicated men. The victim typically collapses immediately and usually dies within a few minutes. The origin of the bleeding may be the vertebral artery on the neck or the intercranial basal brain arteries. In some cases the origin of the bleeding cannot be located. The pathogenetic mechanisms have been a subject of discussion. The damage to the artery may occur in relation to a fracture of the transverse process of the atlas or in relation to subluxations in the cervical vertebral column. The arterial rupture may occur in both normal and abnormal arteries. In many of the cases the trauma may be very slight. This has, of course, important legal implications.

Adult↗