A fatal iatrogenic right vertebral injury after transoral odontoidectomy and posterior cervical stabilization for a type II odontoid fracture.
Abstract The authors present a singular case of an iatrogenic right vertebral artery injury, involving a 67 year-old man, who reported a type II odontoid fracture (Anderson and D'Alonzo Classification) and posterior atlantoaxial dislocation following a road traffic accident. A small injury involving the right vertebral artery occurred as a consequence of transoral odontoidectomy and posterior cervical stabilization. It was caused by bone spicules of spinal origin and their presence was confirmed by the histological section of the right vertebral artery at the level of C1–C2. The case confirms how iatrogenic vertebral artery injuries during cervical spine surgery may be potentially lethal, e…
An unusual fatal case of overdose of Vinblastine and review of literature
The pharmacological treatment of neoplasia is based on the use of chemotherapeutic substances. Chemotherapeutic agents can cause acute and chronic toxicity even at therapeutic doses. For this reason their overdose puts a patientâs life at severe risk. This work presents an unusual fatal case of overdose subsequent to an accidental massive administration of Vinblastine (90Â mg instead of 9Â mg), slow bolus (five minutes), to a 33-year-old woman who suffered from Hodgkinâs Lymphoma. The administration of the massive dose was due to a transcription error of the therapeutic treatment plan and miscommunication between the health professionals which caused the use of the wrong dose. The foren…
The pathogenetic role of adulterants in 5 cases of drug addicts with a fatal outcome
The purpose of the present study is to determine the role of lidocaine, caffeine and dextromethorphan, used as adulterant substances, in five cases of drug overdose which have come to our attention. Taking into account the pharmacological mechanism, blood concentration and route of administration (intravenous) we evaluated the hypothesis that these substances could act with a synergistic effect - or at least additive - with the illicit drugs on the central nervous system and cardiovascular system.