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Gregoriades ML, Squires TJ, Busuttil A. Acute myocardial ischaemia presenting as sudden death in the Lothian and Borders regions of Scotland, 1987 and 1997. J Clin Forensic Med. 1999;6(4):228-32doi: 10.1016/s1353-1131(99)90002-0.
Gregoriades, M. L., Squires, T. J., & Busuttil, A. (1999). Acute myocardial ischaemia presenting as sudden death in the Lothian and Borders regions of Scotland, 1987 and 1997. Journal of clinical forensic medicine, 6(4), 228-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1353-1131(99)90002-0
Gregoriades, M L, et al. "Acute myocardial ischaemia presenting as sudden death in the Lothian and Borders regions of Scotland, 1987 and 1997." Journal of clinical forensic medicine vol. 6,4 (1999): 228-32. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1353-1131(99)90002-0
Gregoriades ML, Squires TJ, Busuttil A. Acute myocardial ischaemia presenting as sudden death in the Lothian and Borders regions of Scotland, 1987 and 1997. J Clin Forensic Med. 1999 Dec;6(4):228-32. doi: 10.1016/s1353-1131(99)90002-0. PMID: 15335468.
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J Clin Forensic Med. 1999 Dec;6(4):228-32. doi: 10.1016/s1353-1131(99)90002-0.

Acute myocardial ischaemia presenting as sudden death in the Lothian and Borders regions of Scotland, 1987 and 1997.

Journal of clinical forensic medicine

M L Gregoriades, T J Squires, A Busuttil

Affiliations

  1. Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Medicine Unit, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK.

PMID: 15335468 DOI: 10.1016/s1353-1131(99)90002-0

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To profile deaths from acute myocardial ischaemia presenting as sudden unexpected death in the years 1987 and 1997, and to review the diagnosis of those patients who sought medical attention.

DESIGN: A retrospective study using data obtained from autopsy and police reports held in the Forensic Medicine Unit of the University of Edinburgh.

RESULTS: Cardiovascular pathology was present in a significant proportion of cases. Clinically 'silent' events presenting as a sudden, unexpected death were common, comprising more than one-half of the events observed in 1987 and one-third of those in 1997. For symptomatic cases, respiratory and upper gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common presentation. The majority of patients seeking medical advice were misdiagnosed as either having a chest infection or indigestion.

CONCLUSIONS: Doctors in the primary care setting should include acute myocardial ischaemia as a possible differential diagnosis of a number of symptoms which initially do not suggest a myocardial origin.

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