Autopsy Pathology of Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease: Case Reports

Abstract

An Autopsy is performed on a dead body primarily to determine the cause of death. Two autopsies of death from hypertensive cardiovascular disease were performed at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria. The first autopsy was on a 51 year old man diagnosed about 12 years before his death with hypertension. Autopsy report after his death revealed pan-valvular dilatation, benign nephrosclerosis, chronic pyelonephritis, hepatomegaly with chronic passive congestion of the liver, splenomegaly, pleural effusion, pulmonary edema, ascites and moderate cerebral edema. The cause of death was ruled as congestive cardiac failure and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. The second autopsy was on a 60 year old woman who died after a 5 day history of headache and a day history of loss of consciousness. Autopsy report after her death revealed massive intracerebral and intraventricular haemorrhage, pontine haemorrhage, laryngotracheobronchitis, pulmonary edema, and congested liver and spleen. The cause of death was ruled as hypertensive cardiovascular disease with massive intracranial haemorrhage. A thorough autopsy of deaths from hypertensive cardiovascular disease to reveal other associated pathologies was recommended. Keywords: Autopsy, Hypertensive cardiovascular disease, Intracranial haemorrhage, Congestive cardiac failure, Hypertension