1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Dharmapuri Medical College, Dharmapuri, Tamilnadu
2Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, Chennai
Sudden cardiac death is one the leading causes of death all over the world. The establishment of the cause of death at autopsy is often complicated due to the absence of gross changes in the heart until 24–48 hours after the infarction. Hence, this study was conducted by collecting 54 heart specimens from autopsy of cases of sudden cardiac death over a period of 24 months and analyzing it grossly and also by staining with Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride to uncover the early changes of infarction, followed by histopathological examination and to establish the cause of death as myocardial infarction. This test revealed an overall accuracy of 88%, and hence is a very effective and cost efficient means of diagnosing early changes.
Sudden cardiac deaths; Autopsy findings, Early diagnosis, TTC staining, Sensitivity
