Publications by authors named "Barbara Fliss"

Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to determine if a dilatation of the common bile duct (CBD) can be seen in postmortem CT scans of individuals who died from opiate/opioid intoxication and if this dilatation can also be measured for other drug groups.* -
  • Researchers analyzed 125 cases of lethal intoxication using postmortem CT and compared them to 88 control cases without toxic substances, finding a significant difference in CBD diameters between the intoxication group and controls.* -
  • The results showed that only opiate and opioid cases had a significantly wider CBD, suggesting dilatation may indicate lethal opioid intoxication, but this should be considered alongside other evidence in postmortem investigations.*
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When the time since death must be calculated forensic pathologists often consider a calculation based on the Henssge nomogram. This calculation requires an estimated body weight. Previous research has indicated that healthcare workers generally inaccurately guessed patients' body weights.

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Objectives: Due to taphonomic processes such as burial, fire, or animal activity, bones are often found incomplete, which can pose problematic for establishing the biological profile of the deceased using anthropological methods. The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of using statistical shape modeling (SSM) to reconstruct full femora from simulated partial femora and determine the accuracy of the reconstruction. Moreover, we assess the accuracy of sex estimation and the degree of stature error added based on the reconstructed femur using different anthropological methods.

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Documenting the existence, size, position and shape of injuries is an important part of medical forensic examinations. In the photography of an injury, the documentation is limited to an approximation of size and position of the injury based on a ruler included in the image. The documentation of injuries can be improved with photogrammetry, which allows the creation of scaled 3D models of an injury that can be used to not only document and visualize the injury but also to match the injury with an injury-causing object.

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Background: Computed tomography (CT) images of livers may show a hypo-attenuated structure alongside the falciform ligament, which can be a focal fatty pseudolesion and can mimic a malignancy. The preferred location is on the right parafissural site, ventral in segment IVa/b. The etiology is not clear, nor is it known how the histology of this location develops.

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A case of rapid demise following an undiagnosed stercoral perforation is reported. A 57-year-old woman on chronic opioid replacement therapy presented with constipation and abdominal pain to the hospital. Following an unremarkable abdominal radiograph and admission for laxation and pain therapy, she was found dead only 18 h later.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Advances in technology allow for the storage and review of 3D models of skeletal injuries, which can serve as valuable evidence in court and provide clarity on complex medical and forensic issues.
  • * Continuous training and collaboration between forensic experts and tech specialists are crucial, but ethical, legal, and financial implications of using these imaging techniques need to be thoroughly understood before implementation in forensic settings.
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Objectives: Estimating the sex of decomposed corpses and skeletal remains of unknown individuals is one of the first steps in the identification process in forensic contexts. Although various studies have considered the femur for sex estimation, the focus has primarily been on a specific single or a handful of measurements rather than the entire shape of the bone. In this article, we use statistical shape modeling (SSM) for sex estimation.

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We report a case of a contraindicated attachment of a speaking valve to a tracheal tube with an inflated cuff, which rapidly resulted in the patient's death. The attached one-way valve allowed unrestrained inspiration through the tracheal tube but prevented physiological expiration. The increased pulmonary pressure resulted in alveolar rupture and replaced expiration with a steady release of air into the peribronchial sheaths and the mediastinum, resulting in what is commonly known as the Macklin effect.

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We report a fetal loss following maternal ketoacidosis in a case of cryptic pregnancy. Biochemical analysis of peripheral blood revealed highly elevated levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in the mother (9.2 mmol/l) and the fetus (4.

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Suitcases or other containers are occasionally involved in forensic investigations. If there is a suspicion that human remains are hidden inside such a container, medico-legal examinations are required. However, these containers are occasionally locked.

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Objective: The purpose was to evaluate the presence of gas in the tissue adjacent to the laryngeal structures, "the gas bubble sign", in cases of hanging as a diagnostic indicator of neck trauma.

Methods: In this study, post-mortem CT (PMCT) scans and autopsies of 35 victims of hanging were examined to reveal age-dependent changes, laryngeal fracture, fracture location and the presence of gas. A matched group with cardiac arrest or intoxication was used as controls (n = 35).

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False aneurysm of the pulmonary artery complicated by bronchovascular fistula formation represents a rare life threating condition. We report a case of fatal hemoptysis after formation of a bronchial fistula in the late postoperative period after sleeve lobectomy. Cause of death was determined by external postmortem examination, post mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and angiography (PMCTA) without conventional autopsy.

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