Paradoxical air embolism through patent foramen ovale during consensual intercourse in a non-pregnant young female

J Forensic Leg Med. 2009 Nov;16(8):482-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2009.07.002. Epub 2009 Aug 7.

Abstract

Sudden vaginal bleeding and a cardiac arrest occurred in a 18-year-old female during consensual intercourse. Resuscitation procedures, applied at the arrival of a medical emergency team, restored the cardiac function allowing admission to hospital, where two vaginal mucosal lacerations were diagnosed and sutured. Cardiological investigations diagnosed a left ventricle myocardial infarction and a patent foramen ovale while a brain CT scan showed ischemic signs and intravascular air images. Death occurred after 48 h, due to heart failure, cerebral anoxia and multiorgan failure. Autopsy confirmed a patent foramen ovale considered as responsible for a paradoxical air embolism. Judicial Authority evaluated the fatal paradoxical air embolism as a consequence of an unpredictable accident occurred during consensual intercourse without sexual violence.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents
  • Adolescent
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Coitus*
  • Embolism, Air / etiology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Foramen Ovale, Patent / pathology*
  • Forensic Pathology
  • Heart Arrest / etiology
  • Heart Failure / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / etiology*
  • Multiple Organ Failure / etiology*
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed