Browsing by Author "Djukić, Danica (57604470200)"

Introduction: The Burn Index (BI) is a significant clinical prognostic parameter for patients with burns. It simultaneously considers major mortality risk factors: age and burns extensivity. Despite the inability to distinguish between ante- and post-mortem burns, their characteristics on autopsy might indicate if a significant thermal injury occurred before the onset of death. We investigated whether autopsy BI, burn extensivity, and severity could tell whether burns were the concurrent cause of fire-related death (FRD), even if the body remained in a fire. Material and methods: Ten-year retrospective study analyzed FRD that occurred at the scene in a confined space. Soot aspiration was the main inclusion criterion. Autopsy reports were reviewed for demographic data, burn characteristics (degree, Total Body Surface Area burned- TBSA), coronary artery disease, and blood ethanol. We calculated the BI as a sum of the victim's age and percentage of TBSA affected by 2nd, 3rd and 4th-degree burns. Cases were divided into two groups: those with COHb≤ 30% and with COHb> 30%. Subjects with burned TBSA≤ 40% were analyzed separately afterward. Results: The study included 53 males (71.6%) and 21 females (28.4%). No significant difference in age was observed between groups (p > 0.05). COHb≤ 30% had 33, and COHb> 30% had 41 victims. BI and burns extensivity (TBSA) had significant negative correlation with COHb values (ρ = −0.581, p < 0.01 and ρ = −0.439, p < 0.01, respectively). Both were significantly higher in subjects with COHb≤ 30% compared to those with COHb> 30% (140.7 ± 29.57 vs. 95.49 ± 38.49, p < 0.01 and 98 (13−100) vs. 30 (0−100), p < 0.01, BI and TBSA respectively). BI had excellent and TBSA fair performance for detection of subjects with COHb≤ 30% on ROC curve analysis (AUCs 0.821, p < 0.001 and 0.765, p < 0.001), with optimal cut-off values: BI≥ 107 (sensitivity 81.3%, specificity 70.7%) and TBSA≥ 45 (sensitivity 84.8%, specificity 70.7%). On logistic regression analysis BI≥ 107 was independently associated with COHb≤ 30% values (aOR 6; 95%CI 1.55–23.37). The same holds for the presence of 3rd-degree burns (aOR 5.9; 95%CI 1.45–23.99). In the subgroup of subjects with TBSA≤ 40% burned, those with COHb≤ 50% were significantly older than victims with COHb> 50% (p < 0.05). Here BI≥ 85 was a particularly good predictor for detection of subjects with COHb≤ 50% (AUC=0.913, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.813–1.00; sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 81%). Conclusion: The BI≥ 107, TBSA≥ 45% burned, and 3rd-degree burns observed on autopsy point to a significantly higher odds that limited CO intoxication occurred, and burns should be considered a concurrent cause of indoor FRD. When less than 40% of TBSA was affected, BI≥ 85 indicated sub-lethal CO poisoning. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

We presented a case of a 57-year-old female, who was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and was admitted to a hospital seven days later with signs of early pneumonia. The second day after her admission to the hospital, and nine days after the first positive PCR test, examination showed progressive ascendant weakness of the arms and legs with persisting paresthesia, lab tests showed increased concentration of proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid with albumino-cytological dissociation. She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). She was on low-flow oxygen support of 3 L/min, with good oxygen saturation (97–99%), without clinical or radiological progression of pneumonia. After receiving a negative PCR test for COVID-19 (11 days after the initial, positive test), four days after admission, she was set to be transferred to a specialized neurology clinic, however, she died unexpectedly during admission. The autopsy showed light to moderate lung edema, signs of moderate to severe coronary atherosclerosis and early myocardial ischemia. Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining of the peripheral nerves sampled from the cervical and brachial plexuses, showed foci of demyelination as well as infiltration with inflammatory cells, predominantly macrophages, and lymphocytes to a lesser degree. It was concluded that the causes of death were a breathing disorder and the paralysis of the diaphragm due to inflammatory polyneuropathy caused by GBS, initiated by SARS-CoV-2 infection. With the lack of similar autopsy cases, we believe that the presented case could be a valuable addition to the understanding of GBS development in SARS-CoV-2 related cases. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

We presented a case of a 57-year-old female, who was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and was admitted to a hospital seven days later with signs of early pneumonia. The second day after her admission to the hospital, and nine days after the first positive PCR test, examination showed progressive ascendant weakness of the arms and legs with persisting paresthesia, lab tests showed increased concentration of proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid with albumino-cytological dissociation. She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). She was on low-flow oxygen support of 3 L/min, with good oxygen saturation (97–99%), without clinical or radiological progression of pneumonia. After receiving a negative PCR test for COVID-19 (11 days after the initial, positive test), four days after admission, she was set to be transferred to a specialized neurology clinic, however, she died unexpectedly during admission. The autopsy showed light to moderate lung edema, signs of moderate to severe coronary atherosclerosis and early myocardial ischemia. Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining of the peripheral nerves sampled from the cervical and brachial plexuses, showed foci of demyelination as well as infiltration with inflammatory cells, predominantly macrophages, and lymphocytes to a lesser degree. It was concluded that the causes of death were a breathing disorder and the paralysis of the diaphragm due to inflammatory polyneuropathy caused by GBS, initiated by SARS-CoV-2 infection. With the lack of similar autopsy cases, we believe that the presented case could be a valuable addition to the understanding of GBS development in SARS-CoV-2 related cases. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

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