Biomaterial Database

Air embolism during sexual intercourse in the puerperium. 2010

James R Lyness, and Alastair J Bentley

State Pathologist's Department, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland. James.Lyness@statepathni.org.uk

Air embolism is a rare but well-recognized cause of sudden death during pregnancy or in the puerperium. Many of the cases described in the medical literature are associated with sexual activities, in particular following air insufflation during orogenital sex. This case report describes the sudden death from air embolism of a young woman during consensual penetrative vaginal intercourse with her male partner 12 days into the puerperium.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003075	Coitus	The sexual union of a male and a female, a term used for human only.	Sexual Intercourse,Coital Frequency,First Intercourse,Coital Frequencies,First Intercourses,Frequencies, Coital,Frequency, Coital,Intercourse, First,Intercourse, Sexual,Intercourses, First
D003645	Death, Sudden	The abrupt cessation of all vital bodily functions, manifested by the permanent loss of total cerebral, respiratory, and cardiovascular functions.	Sudden Death
D004618	Embolism, Air	Blocking of a blood vessel by air bubbles that enter the circulatory system, usually after TRAUMA; surgical procedures, or changes in atmospheric pressure.	Air Embolism,Embolism, Gas,Air Embolisms,Embolisms, Air,Embolisms, Gas,Gas Embolism,Gas Embolisms
D005260	Female		Females
D006352	Heart Ventricles	The lower right and left chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps venous BLOOD into the LUNGS and the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic arterial circulation.	Cardiac Ventricle,Cardiac Ventricles,Heart Ventricle,Left Ventricle,Right Ventricle,Left Ventricles,Right Ventricles,Ventricle, Cardiac,Ventricle, Heart,Ventricle, Left,Ventricle, Right,Ventricles, Cardiac,Ventricles, Heart,Ventricles, Left,Ventricles, Right
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014599	Uterus	The hollow thick-walled muscular organ in the female PELVIS. It consists of the fundus which is the site of EMBRYO IMPLANTATION and FETAL DEVELOPMENT. Beyond the isthmus at the perineal end of fundus, is CERVIX UTERI (the neck) opening into VAGINA. Beyond the isthmi at the upper abdominal end of fundus, are the FALLOPIAN TUBES.	Fundus Uteri,Uteri,Uterine Cornua,Uterine Fundus,Uterus Cornua,Womb,Cornua, Uterine,Fundus Uterus,Fundus, Uterine,Uteri, Fundus,Wombs
D049429	Forensic Pathology	The application of pathology to questions of law.	Pathology, Forensic
D049590	Postpartum Period	In females, the period that is shortly after giving birth (PARTURITION).	Puerperium,Postpartum,Postpartum Women,Period, Postpartum,Women, Postpartum