The Incidence and Characteristic Features of Fatal Hemorrhage Due to Ruptured Varicose Veins

Abstract

Death due to hemorrhage from ruptured peripheral varicose veins is an uncommon event. A review of the files of Forensic Science SA (FSSA) in Adelaide, South Australia, was undertaken over a 10-year period from January 1996 to December 2005 for such cases. A total of 8 cases were found out of a total of 10,686, representing <0.01% of autopsy cases. The male to female ratio was 1:3, with an age range of 58-84 years (mean = 78 years). The victims were all located at their home addresses, where they had been alone at the time of their deaths. Scene investigations revealed considerable blood loss, with pooling around the victims' bodies, and also in other parts of the house, particularly the bathroom/toilet areas. Four ulcers were of an acute perforative type and 2 were of a chronic ulcerative type. In 2 cases, bleeding followed trauma. Toxicologic evaluation was performed in only 3 of the cases, revealing blood alcohol levels of 0.06% and 0.14% in 2 cases, respectively. A further victim had been prescribed anticoagulant drugs for an unrelated condition. Additional findings of significance were ischemic heart disease in 3 cases and deep venous thrombosis of the calf veins on the side of the fatal hemorrhage in another case (with no evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism). One victim had acute gastric erosions, suggesting that hypothermia following collapse played a role in the terminal event. Autopsy evaluation of such cases should include careful layer dissection of the area of hemorrhage to confirm the presence of the ruptured varix and to enable directed histologic sampling.