Haemopericardium…traumatic or spontaneous?

Haemopericardium, as an autopsy finding, obviously indicates rupture of heart or bleeding from root of aorta-either due to trauma or pathological condition, like ruptured aneurysm. The task of deciding the manner of production of haemopericardium and rupture of heart, whether traumatic or spontaneous, becomes more difficult when the external or internal evidence of mechanical injury is also found at autopsy.

An autopsy case of male aged about 60 years, brought dead to this institute, with history of “sudden chest pain followed by postural imbalance and fall from table” is presented in the light of evaluating the manner of haemopericardium by meticulous interpretation of autopsy findings and histopathological analysis report.