A prospective toxicology analysis in alcoholics

TY - JOUR

T1 - A prospective toxicology analysis in alcoholics

AU - Thomsen, Jørgen Lange

AU - Simonsen, Kirsten Wiese

AU - Felby, Søren

AU - Frohlich, Bruno

PY - 1997/11/10

Y1 - 1997/11/10

N2 - A prospective and comprehensive investigation was done on 73 medico–legal autopsies in alcoholics. The results of the toxicology analyses are described. Alcohol intoxication was the cause of death in 8%, combined alcohol/drug intoxication in 15% and drugs alone in 19%. Alcoholic ketoacidosis was found to be the cause of death in 7%. Altogether toxicology analyses were necessary for determining the cause of death in 51% of the cases. In four cases the cause of death would not have been found, had this investigation not been made. It is concluded that toxicology analyses should be the rule rather than the exception in deaths in alcoholics.

AB - A prospective and comprehensive investigation was done on 73 medico–legal autopsies in alcoholics. The results of the toxicology analyses are described. Alcohol intoxication was the cause of death in 8%, combined alcohol/drug intoxication in 15% and drugs alone in 19%. Alcoholic ketoacidosis was found to be the cause of death in 7%. Altogether toxicology analyses were necessary for determining the cause of death in 51% of the cases. In four cases the cause of death would not have been found, had this investigation not been made. It is concluded that toxicology analyses should be the rule rather than the exception in deaths in alcoholics.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - Alcoholic

KW - Ketoacidosis

KW - Intoxication

KW - Forensic Medicine

U2 - 10.1016/S0379-0738(97)00142-4

DO - 10.1016/S0379-0738(97)00142-4

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0379-0738

VL - 90

SP - 33

EP - 40

JO - Forensic Science International

JF - Forensic Science International

ER -