Sudden Gastrointestinal Deaths of a Child due to a Fecaloma: a Multilevel Forensic Pathological Approach

Background: Sudden gastrointestinal deaths refer to unexpected fatalities that occure due severe gastrointestinal conditions. They are rare, especially when compared to sudden deaths caused by cardiovascular, respiratory or neurological events. It is even more rare that a sudden death due to gastrointestinal causes occurs in a child. Results: We presented a unique case of sudden death of a 9-year-old child with no pertinent medical history, presenting abdominal pain and diarrhea and deceased shortly after the onset of symptoms. The autopsy showed a severe intestinal obstruction due to a rectosigmoid fecaloma. In addition, the immunohistochemical evaluation revealed an inflammation of the intestine. Conclusion: In case of sudden deaths, forensic pathological investigation is essential to determine the cause of death. Diagnosis can only be made through a rigorous and multi-level post-mortem approach in which immunostochemical investigation can also make an important contribution.