Venöse Luftembolie bei vaginalen Verletzungen durch Geschlechtsverkehr

Zack F, Zinka B, Beckmann M, Banaschak S, Fischer H, Gabriel P, Gerber B, Costa SD, Ledwon P, Schwenzer T, Buettner A (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Rechtsmedizin Springer Verlag (Germany)

Book Volume: 29

Pages Range: 21-29

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1007/s00194-018-0290-2

Abstract

Background: In a criminal trial in Germany in 2013, a medical expert nominated by the defence stated in the appeal trial the controversially discussed opinion that a woman had died from an air embolism due to vaginal intercourse with exclusively penile penetration and injury to the vaginal wall. This diagnosis had been established by the expert based on histological examination of the lungs and vaginal injuries years after the woman‘s death. Objective: The frequency of the diagnosis “air embolism as a result of vaginal injuries due to intravaginal intercourse” and the modality of the diagnosis were reviewed. Material and methods: A selective literature review was performed. Furthermore, questionnaires were sent to all forensic medical institutes and to directors and chief physicians of gynecological clinics of large cities in Germany. Results: In the literature two case reports could be found, which by critical analysis showed significant errors in the diagnosis according to the state of science at the time of publication. In over 300,000 autopsies performed between 1990 and 2016, the 26 forensic medical institutes in Germany, which had answered the questionnaire, had never diagnosed “air embolism as a result of vaginal injuries due to intravaginal intercourse”. All 32 professionally experienced gynecologists who responded to the questionnaire had never in their career treated survived or fatal cases of air embolism after vaginal injuries through sexual intercourse or had knowledge of them. Conclusion: According to the survey and critical analysis of the very few published case reports, there is no evidence for a diagnosis of the cause of death as air embolism after vaginal injuries. When diagnosing a fatal venous air embolism, scientific standards should be strictly followed. A diagnosis made solely by histological examination was and is not possible according to the state of the art in forensic medicine and thus violates the principles of expert medical opinions.

Authors with CRIS profile

Matthias Beckmann Lehrstuhl für Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde

Involved external institutions

Universität zu Köln DE Germany (DE) Brandenburgisches Landesinstitut für Rechtsmedizin (BLR) DE Germany (DE) Universitätsmedizin Rostock DE Germany (DE) Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg "Theodor Fontane" / Brandenburg Medical School "Theodor Fontane" DE Germany (DE) Klinikum Südstadt Rostock DE Germany (DE) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg A.ö.R. DE Germany (DE) Klinikzentrum Mitte DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Zack, F., Zinka, B., Beckmann, M., Banaschak, S., Fischer, H., Gabriel, P.,... Buettner, A. (2019). Venöse Luftembolie bei vaginalen Verletzungen durch Geschlechtsverkehr. Rechtsmedizin, 29(1), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-018-0290-2

MLA:

Zack, F., et al. "Venöse Luftembolie bei vaginalen Verletzungen durch Geschlechtsverkehr." Rechtsmedizin 29.1 (2019): 21-29.

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