Two infant deaths linked to intussusception without peritonitis

Abstract 

We report two infant deaths attributable to intussusception, but without clear evidence of peritonitis. In the first instance, a 3-year-old girl had presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and melena before her demise. Aspirated vomitus was subsequently ascertained as the immediate cause of death, due to intussusception-induced ileus. The other infant, a 2-month-old male, showed autopsy evidence of intussusception at two sites, with likely aspiration of gastric mucus. Since the circumstances surrounding his death were vague, timing of the intussusception was difficult to pinpoint. Thus, an inconsequential, agonal event could not be discounted. Taken together, however, death from intussusception, without peritonitis, is the most viable postmortem interpretation for both patients. The causes of death in such cases are established by comprehensive delineation of preceding clinical events, plus autopsy documentation of coexistent intussusception and vomitus aspiration.

Keywords: Forensic pathology, Intussusception, Sudden infant death