Biomaterial Database

Fat embolism to the cardiac conduction system associated with sudden death. 1988

D A Schwartz, and S D Finkelstein, and G D Lumb

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

During a brief hospital stay, a patient under treatment with corticosteroids for lymphoma died suddenly and unexpectedly. At autopsy, fat emboli were identified in the lungs, myocardium, liver, and brain. Examination of the cardiac conduction system revealed fat emboli in the vessels of the bundle of His as well as those accompanying the bundle branches, a finding believed to have resulted in the sudden death. This report is the first of fat embolization to the cardiac conduction system and emphasizes the importance of examination of this system in cases of unexplained or sudden death.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011241	Prednisone	A synthetic anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid derived from CORTISONE. It is biologically inert and converted to PREDNISOLONE in the liver.	Dehydrocortisone,delta-Cortisone,Apo-Prednisone,Cortan,Cortancyl,Cutason,Dacortin,Decortin,Decortisyl,Deltasone,Encorton,Encortone,Enkortolon,Kortancyl,Liquid Pred,Meticorten,Orasone,Panafcort,Panasol,Predni Tablinen,Prednidib,Predniment,Prednison Acsis,Prednison Galen,Prednison Hexal,Pronisone,Rectodelt,Sone,Sterapred,Ultracorten,Winpred,Acsis, Prednison
D002036	Bundle of His	Small band of specialized CARDIAC MUSCLE fibers that originates in the ATRIOVENTRICULAR NODE and extends into the membranous part of the interventricular septum. The bundle of His, consisting of the left and the right bundle branches, conducts the electrical impulses to the HEART VENTRICLES in generation of MYOCARDIAL CONTRACTION.	Atrioventricular Bundle,Anterior Fascicle,Kent-His Bundle,Left Bundle Branch of His,Posterior Fascicle,Right Bundle Branch of His,Atrioventricular Bundles,Bundle, Atrioventricular,Bundle, Kent-His,Bundles, Atrioventricular,Fascicle, Anterior,Fascicle, Posterior,His Bundle,Kent His Bundle
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
D004620	Embolism, Fat	Blocking of a blood vessel by fat deposits in the circulation. It is often seen after fractures of large bones or after administration of CORTICOSTEROIDS.	Fat Embolism,Fat Embolism Syndrome,Embolisms, Fat,Fat Embolisms
D006329	Heart Conduction System	An impulse-conducting system composed of modified cardiac muscle, having the power of spontaneous rhythmicity and conduction more highly developed than the rest of the heart.	Conduction System, Heart,Conduction Systems, Heart,Heart Conduction Systems,System, Heart Conduction,Systems, Heart Conduction
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man