Key result
Sudden death in adolescence is largely driven by violent causes and requires detailed pathological investigation, including complete autopsy and history, to properly resolve related medical questions.
Sudden death in adolescence, largely driven by violent causes, requires detailed history and complete autopsy by pathologists for adequate study and resolution.
Requires detailed autopsy and history for adolescent sudden deaths; leaves open cardiac contributions without standardized protocols.
The majority of adolescent deaths are sudden and unexpected; of these, the great majority result from violence. These violent deaths largely accounted for the 25% increase in total adolescent mortality during the 1960s. Yet, sudden death in adolescence is not a distinct entity and receives little study from either pediatricians or pathologists. Some cases of sudden death in adolescence are puzzling and difficult to classify. The pathologist must in each case obtain a detailed history, usually perform a complete autopsy, and obtain consultation when necessary. Only then will each case be adequately studied, and related medical questions and other problems be properly resolved.
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Gordon K. Murphy (1978) conducted a review in Sudden death in adolescence. Sudden death in adolescence is largely driven by violent causes and requires detailed pathological investigation, including complete autopsy and history, to properly resolve related medical questions.
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