Postmortem Study of Sudden and Unexpected Natural Deaths in Aurangabad Region, Maharashtra

The present study is a humble effort to determine the medico-legal and the epidemiological aspects of sudden natural deaths. Total of 2088 medico legal autopsies were performed between 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009, out of which 221 (10.58%) were sudden natural deaths with male to female ratio 7.5:1. Most of the sudden natural deaths were in the age group of 41–50 years (28.05%). A majority of the patients were married (59.8%) Cardiovascular diseases were the most important cause contributing 51.59% principally maximum deaths due to coronary artery disease followed by respiratory diseases among all sudden natural deaths. All natural deaths occurring within 24hours (WHO) from the onset of signs and symptoms were considered. Cases involving trauma, drugs, poison, asphyxia, decomposition were excluded.