Fatal Rupture of Brachial Pseudoaneurysm in a Drug Abuser: Case Report and Review of the Literature. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trotta, Silvia; Sorrentino, Antonella; Bertozzi, Giuseppe; Angiletta, Domenico; Solarino, Biagio
• Is Part Of: American journal of forensic medicine & pathology. Volume 40:Number 4(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: drug abuse -- brachial artery -- pseudoaneurysm -- spontaneous rupture -- autopsy; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic pathology -- Periodicals; 614.105
• DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000504
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-7910

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: The injection of drugs of abuse causes many millions of deaths each year; deaths are mostly due to fatal overdose and the trauma and infection caused by repeated injections. The scientific literature widely reports cases of infected pseudoaneurysm in injecting drug abusers; however, most of these autopsy cases deal with the rupture of pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery. We present fatal hemorrhagic shock in a heroin-cocaine abuser subsequent to rupture of pseudoaneurysm of the brachial artery; the man collapsed just before injecting himself with a dose of heroin-cocaine (speedball).