1st Edition

Forensic Cardiovascular Medicine

By Basil RuDusky Copyright 2009
    210 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Advance Praise for Forensic Cardiovascular Medicine

    "Using his vast experience in the medical-legal theater, Dr. RuDusky addresses a very complicated field in a simple and concise manner. Stressing the importance of honesty, integrity, and accuracy of data, he provides an insightful and interesting approach to the problems facing today's medical community."

    — John H. Ellis, IV, M.D., F.A.C.C., Chairman, Department of Cardiology, Wyoming Valley Healthcare System and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital

    "... a must-read for any new and training physician … I now understand why Dr. RuDusky is considered to be a medical expert in his own right."

    — Damien M. Marycz, M.D., Internal Medicine Resident, Cleveland Clinic

    "Dr. RuDusky has always been fair, impartial, logical, and concise in his analysis … This book adds significantly to a better understanding of the complex medicine behind his opinions."

    — Robert K. Randall, Prominent Midwest malpractice attorney

    "…this book is significant … a major contribution for use by physicians, physicians’ students, lawyers and judges connected with the field of forensic medicine in many different contexts."

    —Michael D. Schottland, Prominent East Coast malpractice attorney

     

    An Essential Text from a World-Renowned Expert in Cardiology 

     

     

    A unique resource for medical examiners and forensic specialists, Forensic Cardiovascular Medicine draws upon Dr. Basil RuDusky’s vast experience to provide coverage of the clinical aspects of cardiac disease in a forensic context. The book emphasizes some of the most frequently encountered cardiovascular medical problems facing the medical examiner or forensic medical specialist, while also placing special emphasis on those conditions and disease states that are apt to be overlooked, misdiagnosed, or tardily considered.

    • Covers death certificates, autopsies, and the role of the medical examiner
    • Presents 25 case studies from the author’s experience to illustrate concepts, including cardiac trauma, vascular abnormalities, specific cardiopathic disorders, and toxic, physical, technical, epidemiological, and social influences
    • Contains the first complete classification of myocardial contusion and blunt cardiac trauma
    • Includes a special section on the cardiovascular effects of breast cancer therapy

    Dr. RuDusky has served as a consultant for the federal government, corporations, insurance companies, and independent medical service agencies. He sits on the manuscript review board for several medical journals and is associate editor of Angiology, the official international journal of the American Society of Angiology and the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis. In this volume, he brings his considerable expertise to this survey of the topic.

    I. OVERVIEW OF FORENSIC MEDICINE

    Introduction and Philosophy

    Death Certificates, Autopsies, and Medical

    Experts

    II. CARDIAC TRAUMA

    Myocardial Contusion and Blunt

    Cardiac Trauma

    Overview

    Mechanism of Blunt Cardiac Injury

    Pathology of Contusion

    Forensic Consideration

    Symptoms

    Signs

    Diagnosis

    Consequences of Blunt Cardiac Trauma

    III. VASCULAR ABNORMALITIES

    Coronary Arterial Afflictions

    Introduction

    Coronary Artery Disease

    Vascular Injury

    Aortic Aneurysms and Aortic Dissection

    Nonpenetrating Vascular Injury

    Nontraumatic Vasculopathies

    Coagulopathic Disorders

    Basic Coagulation Defects

    Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

    Additional Coagulation Commentary

    Mesenteric Ischemia

    IV. SPECIFIC CARDIOPATHIC DISORDERS

    Pericardial Problems

    Valvular Heart Disease

    Cardiac Tumors

    Cardiomyopathic Disorders

    VI. TOXIC AND PHYSICAL INFLUENCES

    Cardiotoxicity

    General Pharmacologic and Physical Overview

    Cocaine

    Alcohol

    Physical Agents

    Androgenic Steroids

    Carbon Monoxide

    Particulate Air Pollution

    Radiation Therapy

    Medication-Induced Cardiac Valvulopathy

    Drug-Induced Electrocardiographic Changes

    VII. TECHNICAL, EPIDEMIOLOGIC, SOCIAL

    AND PHILOSOPHICAL INFLUENCES

    The Electrocardiogram

    Stress

    VIII. ILLUSTRATIVE CASE REPORTS

    Case Reports

    Case 1: Blunt Chest Trauma Resulting in Traumatic Tricuspid Insufficiency

    Forensic Implications

    Case 2: Myocardial Contusion, Cardiac Rupture, and

    Sudden Death

    Forensic Implications

    Case 3: Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Very Young

    Forensic Implications

    Case 4: Nitrate Holiday

    Forensic Implications

    Case 5: Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

    Forensic Implications

    Case 6: Total Aortic Dissection

    Forensic Implications

    Case 7: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Dissection, and Rupture

    Forensic Implications

    Case 8: Temporal Arteritis

    Forensic Implications

    Case 9: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and

    Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia

    Forensic Implication

    Case 10: Postoperative Drug-induced Hemorrhage

    Patient 1

    Patient 2

    Forensic Implications

    Case 11: Acute Mesenteric Ischemia (Arterial)

    Forensic Implications

    Case 12: Subacute and Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia

    Forensic Implications

    Case 13: Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis

    Forensic Implications

    Case 14: Pericardial Tamponade

    Forensic Implications

    Case 15: Toxic Myocarditis from an "Herbal Energy Capsule"

    Forensic Implications

    Case 16: Left Atrial Myxoma

    Forensic Implications

    Case 17: Vascular Metastatic Obstruction — Arterial Obstruction Secondary to Metastatic Chondrosarcoma

    Forensic Implications

    Case 18: Oncologic Cardiomyopathy

    Forensic Implications

    Case 19: Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

    Forensic Implications

    Case 20: Brugada Syndrome

    Forensic Implications

    Case 21: Carcinoid Syndrome

    Forensic Implications

    Case 22: Stress-Induced Myocardial Infarction

    Forensic Implications

    Case 23: Pulmonary Embolism

    Forensic Implications

    Case 24: Radiation-Induced Cardiac Disease

    Forensic Implications

    Case 25: Carbon Monoxide Toxicity

    Forensic Implications

    Appendices

    References

    Biography

    Basil RuDusky

    "Today's medical legal issues have created an intense climate among the medical, legal, and judicial professions. Using his vast experience in the medical legal theater, Dr. RuDusky addresses a very complicated field in a simple and concise manner. Stressing the importance of honesty, integrity, and accuracy of data, he provides an insightful and interesting approach to the problems facing today's medical community. ... will become a must-read for medical practitioners and legal experts."

    --John H. Ellis, IV, M.D., F.A.C.C., Chairman, Department of Cardiology, Wyoming Valley Healthcare System and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital

    "As a beginning Resident in Internal Medicine, I feel that Dr. RuDusky's book ...  is a must-read for any new and training physician. I especially found the section on "Illustrative Case Reports" to be significant since they are not topics normally stressed in basic medical education. I now understand why Dr. RuDusky is considered to be a medical expert in his own right."

    --Damien M. Marycz, M.D., Internal Medicine Resident, Cleveland Clinic

    "Dr. RuDusky has always been fair, impartial, logical, and concise in his analysis of my medical negligence cases. This book adds significantly to a better understanding of the complex medicine behind his opinions."

    --Robert K. Randall, Prominent Midwest malpractice attorney

    "As an experienced civil trial attorney in New Jersey, I must say the material contained in the ideas surrounding and underlying this book are significant and would represent a major contribution for use by physicians, physicians' students, lawyers, and judges connected with the field of forensic medicine in many different contexts. I would look forward to receiving and using a completed copy of this publication."

    --Michael D. Schottland, Prominent Eastcoast malpractice attorney

     

    "The book under review is a unique resource for medical and medico legal professionals. … Dr. Basil RuDusky has had a vast experience in dealing with medico legal cases dealing with cardiovascular trauma, and in this book, he draws upon his experiences to churn out a masterpiece. … Perhaps the most illustrative part of the book is section VII, which gives as many as 25 illustrative case reports … This book is the very first which deals with forensic and medico legal aspects of cardiovascular medicine. In my opinion, it is an absolute must for all medical and medico legal professionals and medical examiners."

    —Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology