Calcified myocardial necrosis in pediatric patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2013 Dec;9(4):543-50. doi: 10.1007/s12024-012-9400-8. Epub 2012 Dec 22.

Abstract

We report three autopsy cases of wide-spread myocardial necrosis with calcification in pediatric patients after temporary generalized hypoxia and initially successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but subsequent in-hospital death. Autopsy and histological workup in all three cases showed multiple circumscribed calcified and necrotic areas in progressive stages of organization within the myocardium. We conclude that these macro- and microscopic autopsy features appear to be related to reperfusion injuries in children as a consequence of hypoxic-ischemic changes occurring in the peri- and postresuscitation period.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Autopsy
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*
  • Cause of Death
  • Child, Preschool
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart Arrest / pathology*
  • Heart Arrest / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / pathology*
  • Hypoxia / therapy
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / pathology*
  • Myocardium / pathology*
  • Necrosis