FATAL ASPIRATION OF GASTRIC CONTENTS DURING SLEEP: A FORENSIC AUTOPSY CASE REPORT

Background: In Conclusion, although dilemma exist on the difference between antemortem aspiration and postmortem spill of gastric contents into the respiratory tract when determining the cause of death in cases of sudden unexpected death, the presence of wide spread diffuse alveolar damage on histology in the presence of full stomach and respiratory tract hyperemia with presence of gastric content, with no significant findings in the heart and the brain as well as any other strategic organs in the body capable of causing sudden death can be convincing for a diagnosis of death due to fatal aspiration. Objective: Gastric contents in the respiratory tract are commonly found at postmortem in acute alcoholism, occasionally during a fit of epilepsy and in dead bodies that have started decomposing. Methods: Quite infrequently, it may be found in fresh bodies that have undergone sudden unexpected and unattended death leading to a dilemma as to the real cause of death when there is no other substantial evidence at autopsy. Results: Histology of the lungs showed hyaline membrane formation lining the alveolar spaces with marked interstitial protenaceous fluid admix with acute inflammatory cells within alveolar septa and alveolar air spaces with a cause of death as diffuse alveolar damage following fatal Chemical aspiration of gastric content. Conclusion: This report involved a dead body of a 31 year old house wife who was found unresponsive by the husband at 6am in the morning and was taken to the morgue after been certified dead in a teaching hospital with a request for post mortem study .