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

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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.

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About the authors

Syahroni S. Syahroni

Airlangga University

Author for correspondence.
Email: syahronibinmukin19@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3058-146X

MD

Индонезия, Сурабая

Wira Santoso Ongko

Airlangga University

Email: wiraongko@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0006-1914-3986

MD

Индонезия, Сурабая

Ahmad Yudianto

Airlangga University

Email: yudi4n6sby@yahoo.co.id
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4754-768X

MD, Dr. (Medicine), Professor

Индонезия, Сурабая

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Supplementary files

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1. JATS XML
2. Fig. 1. Bleeding in the abdominal cavity.

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3. Fig. 2. Enlarged uterus measuring 7×7×6 cm (a, black arrow). A tear is noted in the right fallopian tube (white arrow); b — the uterine cavity to the vagina is opened. The uterine wall is 2 cm thick, and the mucosa of the uterine cavity is thickened and blackish red.

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4. Fig. 3. Photomicrography findings indicating tubal ectopic pregnancy: a — decidua tissue in the uterus (200×), b — extensive corpus luteum in the right ovary (100×), c — chorionic villi in the right fallopian tube (100×).

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5. Fig. 4. Photomicrography findings indicating the occurrence of multipleorgan failure: a — pulmonary edema with dilated blood vessel congestion (100×), b — renal necrosis with dilated blood vessels (100×), c — gastric necrosis accompanied by infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils in the lamina propria (100×).

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СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
Регистрационный номер и дата принятия решения о регистрации СМИ: серия ПИ № ФС 77 - 81753 выдано 09.09.2021 г. 
СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
Регистрационный номер и дата принятия решения о регистрации СМИ: серия ЭЛ № ФС 77 – 59181 выдано 03.09.2014
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