Ethyl alcohol consumption characteristics of deceased individuals in Lithuania.

The number of alcohol-related deaths in Lithuania has fallen by almost one-third in the last decade; however, the number of deaths has been on the rise since 2019. Data on the postmortem investigation of victims between 2018 and 2022 were obtained from the Lithuanian State Forensic Medicine Service database. This study analyzed data from 1200 autopsies.

Forensic Assessment of Alcohol Intoxication in Cases of Fatal Road Traffic Accidents in Lithuania.

Background: There is strong evidence that alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for fatal road traffic accidents. It is estimated that the number of alcohol-related road accidents remains high in the past few years in Lithuania. This study aims to examine the prevalence of alcohol in blood samples collected from the autopsy results of road traffic accident victims.

Homicides Disguised as Fire Deaths.

Background: When conducting a forensic examination of burnt bodies, it is important to determine whether the victim was exposed to fire while alive or after death. The differential diagnosis between antemortem and postmortem burning is difficult and often cannot be made based on information obtained solely from the autopsy. The aim of the study is to review current literature on this topic and present clinical cases that illustrate how challenging the determination of vitality during the fire and manner of death can be.

Tuberculosis and Sudden Death in Lithuania.

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. 10.6 million people fell ill in 2021 and 1.

Sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary heart disease and antemortem alcohol intake: A STROBE - compliant retrospective study.

The present study was aimed to assess the prevalence and possible causal relationship of alcohol intake prior to a sudden cardiac death event in patients with coronary artery disease. The retrospective research was performed at the Vilnius branch of The State Forensic Medicine Service. The autopsy protocols for five years were analyzed and the cases of sudden cardiac death were selected, when the determined cause of death was Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), a forensic autopsy and toxicological blood and urine test had been performed.

Traumatic spleen rupture diagnosed during postmortem dissection: A STROBE-compliant retrospective study.

Spleen is typically injured in blunt abdominal trauma. Spleen injuries make 42% of all blunt abdominal injuries. The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective assessment of the cases of acute and subacute isolated traumatic spleen ruptures.

Homicide victims and mechanisms in Lithuania from 2004 to 2016.

A retrospective analysis of 2000 intentional homicide cases from the State Forensic Medicine Service (Vilnius, Lithuania) was carried out in order to evaluate the portrait of homicide victims and mechanisms of death between 2004 and 2016. The definition of intentional homicide appears to be quite straightforward, as a homicide occurs when one person's cause of death can be attributed to another one. Moreover, homicide is accomplished by conscious, active, intentional, or unintentional activities or inaction.

Human deaths from drug overdoses with carfentanyl involvement-new rising problem in forensic medicine: A STROBE-compliant retrospective study.

Carfentanyl, an ultra-potent synthetic opioid, is approved for use only in veterinary medicine as a tranquilizing agent. However, many cases of human poisoning with carfentanyl have recently appeared in the news with limited information given and scientific literature provides only 1 case of documented human exposure to carfentanyl.Fifteen cases of death from drug overdoses with carfentanyl involvement are being presented.

Importance of effusion of blood under the dura mater in forensic medicine: A STROBE - compliant retrospective study.

Subdural hemorrhage is commonly associated with mechanical brain injury and has a correspondingly high mortality rate. Subdural hematomas may immediately provoke symptoms or may be initially asymptomatic, with further symptoms evolving rapidly and fatally.The data regarding forensic autopsy of victims were obtained from The State Forensic Medicine Service of Lithuania between the years 2013 and 2016.

Sudden deaths from positional asphyxia: A case report.

Rationale: Positional asphyxia is a rare cause of sudden death and a difficult diagnosis, based mostly on the circumstances of the incident, along with particular external and internal findings, frequent in asphyxia (signs of sudden death).

Patient Concerns: In this report, we are describing one case of adult who was found positioned in a way that led to eventual asphyxiation.

Diagnoses: The final diagnosis of positional asphyxia was determined after the autopsy.

Autopsy relevance determining hemochromatosis: Case report.

Rationale: Hemochromatosis is a disorder, associated with an abnormal accumulation of iron leading to toxic organ damage. Clinical symptoms develop during a long period of time, thus, determining accidental or late diagnosis, usually when complications are evident.

Patient Concerns: A 53-year-old man was brought to the emergency unit with symptoms of hypovolemic shock without any apparent cause, which ultimately led to multiple organ failure, severe metabolic acidosis.

Homicide Rates in Lithuania.

Homicide rate in Lithuania between 2004 and 2013 decreased and reached an average of 6.7 per 100,000 people in 2013. The data regarding forensic autopsies of intentional homicide victims were obtained from the State Forensic Medicine Service.

Critical Evaluation of Metallization in Electric Injury.

The article presents 3 forensic medicine cases in the field of electric injury. In addition to traditional findings in electric injury (electric mark and histological findings), the forensic medicine experts in Lithuania also perform an atomic absorption spectrometry analysis. This method confirms the effects of electric current to the body through the electric conductor.