Browsing by Author "Asirdizer, M."

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An Autopsy Series: Lightning-Related Deaths in Van and Hakkari Provinces, Turkey
(Univ West indies Faculty Medical Sciences, 2021) Hekimoglu, Y.; Asirdizer, M.; Demir, U.; Gur, A.; Etli, Y.; Gumus, O.; Kartal, E.
Objective: To report the largest series of lightning-related deaths in Turkey, to review the literature on this subject, and to identify similarities and differences between the autopsy findings in this study and the information available in literature. Methods: In this study, autopsy reports and crime scene investigation data on 11 lightning-related fatalities that occurred in the Van and Hakkari Provinces, Turkey, from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 1699 fatalities, 11 (2.53%) evaluated by medico-legal autopsy in the Van and Hakkari Province in a 5-year period died from lightning strikes. Of these cases, 10 (90.1%) were males and 1 (9.9%) was female (p < 0.05). All cases were in the 11 to 33 years age group. All cases were injured outdoors. Conclusion: We concluded that deaths due to lightning strikes are relatively rare in Turkey, and may be reduced with precautions such as avoiding staying under trees or in the vicinity of high towers, refraining from touching metal objects, avoiding lying on the ground, leaning on walls, and crouching outdoors.
Crime Scene and Autopsy Findings in Two Cases of Sudden Death Caused by Inhalation of Butane Gas
(Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, 2023) Kartal, E.; Etli, Y.; Demir, U.; Ata, U.; Asirdizer, M.
Solvent inhalation is still an important public health problem that is responsible morbidity and mortality of young people worldwide and has adverse effects on society. In Turkey, solvent inhalation is the most common substance abuse following smoking and alcohol addiction, and butane and propane have been reported to be the most frequently inhaled substances. In this study, the crime scene information is presented, with the pathology and toxicology analysis results of two cases of death due to inhalation of n-butane, one as suicide and the other accidentally. Although clinical findings were described in detail in cases hospitalized due to butane gas inhalation and in death cases, the number of articles describing crime scene and autopsy findings is limited. In this case report, it is aimed to describe of the findings that they may encounter during the crime scene and death examination, especially for general practitioners and autopsy findings of cases. Consequently, it is important for the general practitioners participating in the corpse examination to be careful about the crime scene and the findings on the corpse, for accurate toxicological analyzes and accurate determination of the cause of death. These physicians should give clues to forensic experts about signs such as thinner, glue, or gas source near the corpse, a plastic bag placed on the head of the corpse, vomit stains near the corpse or on their clothing. © 2023, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.
Hypothermia Deaths in Van Province, Turkey
(Univ West indies Faculty Medical Sciences, 2021) Hekimoglu, Y.; Etli, Y.; Gumus, O.; Kartal, E.; Demir, U.; Asirdizer, M.
Objective: To evaluate autopsy findings in hypothermia-related deaths in Van Province, Turkey, a city near the Turkey-Iran border. Methods: Autopsy reports on 43 hypothermia fatalities were retrospectively reviewed. Data regarding age, gender, nationality of the cases, seasonality of the deaths, crime scene findings, autopsy findings, manner of deaths, risk factors for hypothermia, other traumatic lesions, and toxicology were obtained from autopsy records and scene investigation records. Results: There were 36 males and 7 females. The mean age was 20.5 years. More than half of the cases died or were found dead in the spring months. All but one of the cases was found dead outdoors. There were common red-coloured livor mortis in 33 cases (76.7%), antemortem traumas in 16 cases (37.2%), cold erythema in 26 cases (60.5%), myxedema in 1 case, bloody discolouration in the synovial fluid in 11 (84.6%) cases, and Wischnewski spots in 32 cases (74.4%). Conclusion: The study showed that illegal refugees are an important social problem in Turkey. Hypothermia should be considered as a cause of death for refugees when they are found, especially in the cold provinces. In the diagnosis of hypothermia, bloody discolouration of the synovial fluid is confirmed to be a valuable finding. Wischnewski spots remain valuable for positive identification.
Medico-Legal Evaluation of Keloid Formation Following Prominent Ear Correction: Malpractice or Complication
(Romanian Legal Medicine Society, 2024) Demir, C.Y.; Hekimoglu, Y.; Asirdizer, M.
Prominent ears (=prominauris=) are anatomical auricular deformities that are seen in 5% of the population, are autosomal dominant in the white population, and have psychological negative effects, especially on young girls and boys in their social environments. Various surgical intervention methods have been defined and applied for the treatment of prominent ears. After these surgical interventions, some undesirable results may occur, one of which is hypertrophic scarring and keloid formation. In the case of the 42-year-old female presented in this article, a lawsuit was filed against the physician and the hospital alleging medical malpractice after excessive keloid formation following prominent ear correction. The case was evaluated in medical and medico-legal aspects, and it was decided that the undesirable outcome was a complication, contrary to the usual legal decisions in Turkey. As a result, it was thought that the establishment of a specific insurance system for the patient before surgical interventions will not only protect the patient in the event of an undesired outcome, but also reduce unfounded malpractice claims. © 2024 Romanian Society of Legal Medicine.
Neck Vascular Lesions in Hanging Cases: a Literature Review
(Churchill Livingstone, 2022) Asirdizer, M.; Kartal, E.
The aim of this review was to investigate the types and rates of vascular lesions occurring in cases of completed hanging and near-hanging, defined in literature. In the literature to date, 6 specific types of vascular injuries have been defined in cases of death as a result of hanging. These are Amussat's sign, Etienne Martin's sign, Dominguez-Paez sign, Friedberg-Lesser sign, Ziemke-Otto's sign, and Lupascu sign. As a result of this study, it was determined that the most defined finding was the Amussat sign, and it was concluded that the other findings were not sufficiently recognized. Likewise, considering that the proportional differences are due to the differences in the rates of autopsy practice and autopsy protocols between countries, it can be suggested that international joint autopsy protocols should be developed at the meetings in which national professional associations participate. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine