The Postmortem Pathology of Sudden Death in Chronic Alcohol Exposure and Acute Alcohol Intoxication: A Review of Medicolegal Considerations, Traumatic and Systemic Pathology, and Biochemical Mechanisms

Abstract

Chronic alcohol exposure is common in all societies and is seen at high rates during coronial (medicolegal) postmortem examinations. In both setting of acute alcohol intoxication and chronic misuse, a wide range of pathologies and mechanisms of death may be encountered, particularly with regard to sudden, unexpected or violent deaths. These warrant special attention. In this review, we examine the approach to postmortem examination where alcohol is likely to have played a key role in death. Attention is given to the scene of death, patterns of traumatic injury, systemic pathology (particularly of chronic alcohol exposure), seizures related to alcohol, and appropriate biochemical investigations.