Pulmonary thromboembolism: A momentous event in a case of polytrauma

Abstract

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is one of the momentous events in a case of polytrauma. In majority cases because of sudden commencement, medicolegal autopsy shows insufficient macroscopic confirmation even though thrombo-embolism is the cause of death. During a medicolegal autopsy, the autopsy surgeon, firstly need to differentiate embolus and post mortem clot by gross examination. Histopathological examination (HPE) not only helps to establish emboli but also illuminates associated systemic changes in other organs as well. Most importantly, the correlation of autopsy findings and HPE findings with the clinical events reflected in medical records helps to scientifically explain the series of events during hospitalization. The same data is also useful in better monitoring and management of polytrauma cases in the future.