The objective of the study was to assess the association between high blood alcohol levels and fatal victims of traffi c accidents in the Brazilian Federal District, in 2005. A total of 442 casualties (163 pedestrians, 84 victims of overturns, and 195 of collisions) were studied. Blood alcohol concentration was analyzed in 238 cases (53.7%). Most victims were young males, aged between 18 and 35 years. Blood alcohol levels higher than 0.6 g/L were detected in 44.2% of collision victims; 57.7% of victims of overturns and 32.5% of pedestrians. The difference in proportions between overturn victims with blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.6 g/L and those victims of other traffi c accidents was statistically signifi cant.

The authors present 2 cases of fatal cardiac tamponade associated with the insertion of a central venous catheter. The first case occurred soon after the insertion of the catheter (early complication), and the second case, 4 days after (late complication). In both cases, the post-catheter insertion check chest x-ray film showed the tip of the catheter located within the heart silhouette. The diagnosis of cardiac tamponade was made only during the cadaverous examination. In the first case, the catheter was found to be in the right internal jugular vein at autopsy. The postmortem examination showed a clear liquid inside the pericardial cavity and the inferior vena cava injury. In the second case, the catheter had been inserted via the right subclavian vein puncture and there was a perforation of the right atrium at autopsy. The child was using total parenteral nutrition, and the intrapericardial liquid was milky. The incorrect placement of the catheter tip and unrecognized complications led the 2 children to death.

Purposes: The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of mortality in children's Federal District. Knowledge of the epidemiology of injuries is essential for planning, implementation and evaluation of preventive measures. Methods: We analyzed the forensic examination documents of all children under 12 years sent to the IML-DF, during 2010. The data analyzed included age, gender, cause of death (i.e. natural or external), mechanism of death (traffic accident, asphyxia, firearm injuries, poisoning, heat injuries) and the medical cause of death. Results: A large number of children (n = 123 total; n = 71 males, n = 52 females) were examined in the IML-DF, Brasília, Brazil. Mean age was 37.96 months, with a median of 12 months, and 21% of children were younger than 1 month. There were 62 cases (33 males and 29 female) classified as natural deaths. The average age for natural deaths was 18.72 months. Most cases of natural death occurred in the first year of life (n = 50), being prevalent in the first month of life (n = 24). Among the 62 cases analyzed, six were stillborns, 13 suffered intrauterine fetal distress (e.g. placental insufficiency, prematurity and meconium aspiration), 36 had lung problems (e.g. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), bronchopneumonia, pulmonary hemorrhage, interstitial pneumonitis and infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS)), five had neurological problems (e.g. hydrocephalus, hydranencephaly, convulsive seizures and meningitis) and two had undetermined cause of death. There were also isolated cases of heart disease, leukemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, peritonitis caused by acute appendicitis and amniotic band syndrome. There were 61 cases of deaths from external causes, as a consequence of the following: blunt instrument, firearm, physical agent (i.e. heat), physicochemical agent (i.e. asphyxia) and chemical agent (i.e. poisoning). Conclusions: The profile of deaths from external causes in this developing country follows a trend similar to trends reported in the literature for other developing countries. The majority of deaths are accidental, with traffic accidents being the most frequent cause, followed by asphyxia (i.e. aspiration of gastric contents and drownings). Sporadic cases of poisoning, injuries from firearms, accidents and fires also occur.

The objective of the study was to assess the association between high blood alcohol levels and fatal victims of traffic accidents in the Brazilian Federal District, in 2005. A total of 442 casualties (163 pedestrians, 84 victims of overturns, and 195 of collisions) were studied. Blood alcohol concentration was analyzed in 238 cases (53.7%). Most victims were young males, aged between 18 and 35 years. Blood alcohol levels higher than 0.6 g/L were detected in 44.2% of collision victims; 57.7% of victims of overturns and 32.5% of pedestrians. The difference in proportions between overturn victims with blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.6 g/L and those victims of other traffic accidents was statistically significant.