Report of a fatal case of pulmonary thromboembolism in a long-distance truck driver

Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2014 Dec;35(4):242-5. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000117.

Abstract

Long-distance truck drivers have been found to be associated with many medical problems because of their lifestyle and work environment. Many studies have revealed an increased risk in sexually transmitted infections, musculoskeletal disease, sleep disorders, hypertension, gastrointestinal disease, substance abuse and alcoholism, lung cancer, as well as human immunodeficiency virus infection. To our knowledge, there are no any articles about a fatal case of pulmonary thromboembolism. We report a case of a 45-year-old truck driver, who was found dead in his truck at a service station along the A1 motorway in Umbria, Italy. Autopsy findings revealed pulmonary thromboembolism as cause of death. Our report underlies that future actions must be addressed to provide health care access to this vulnerable, medically underserved population.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Automobile Driving*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Vehicles
  • Occupational Diseases / pathology*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / pathology*