Fatal Gastrointestinal Perforations in sudden death cases in Last 10 years at UMMC- Malaysia

Abstract

Gastrointestinal perforation occurs when the wall of the gastro-intestinal tract like stomach, small intestine or large bowel develops a hole through its entire thickness. This retrospective study was aimed to identify pattern of GIT perforations that caused sudden deaths in this part of the world. The study was conducted in Forensic
Pathology unit of University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in the year 2006 by reviewing the autopsy reports. There were 61 cases of GIT perforation out of 5579 autopsies conducted during a period of ten years (1996-2005). The incidence rate of fatal gastrointestinal
perforation was 1.09% during this period. Out of these 61 cases, there were 49 males (80.3%) and 12 female (19.7%). The most common site of gastrointestinal perforation was at the stomach (45.7%), followed by duodenum (18.5%), esophagus (9.9%), small intestine (9.9%), and large intestine (16.0%). The 36.07% cases had positive correlation
with at least one of the known risk factors.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal perforation, peptic ulcer perforation, peritonitis, sudden deaths, silent perforations in sudden death, autopsy.

Internet Journal of Medical Update Vol. 2 (1) 2007: pp. 29-32