Background: Carbon monoxide threatens its victims with sudden anoxic death and severe neurologica... more Background: Carbon monoxide threatens its victims with sudden anoxic death and severe neurological sequelae. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical retrospective study on 14 cases of deaths due to Carbon monoxide poisoning collected at the Forensic Department of Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca (UHC), over a two years period from January 2018 to December 2019. Results: Among the 14 deaths, there were nine (N=09) male victims (64%) and five (N=05) female (36%), aged 25 to 44 years in 43% of cases and 45 to 64 years in 36% of cases. Vast majority of cases (86%) involved accidental household poisoning. A water heater was incriminated in 36%. The source of Carbon monoxide was related to a defective device (36%). Neurological signs such as disturbances of consciousness were the most common (92%) symptom. The peak poisoning period (50%) occurred in December. Autopsy revealed pulmonary petechial spots (14%) and congestion of most organs. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) was positive in 8 cases with a rate> 5%, including 3 victims with no history of smoking and > 10% among 5 smokers. The value was negative for two victims who received oxygen therapy during hospital resuscitation efforts. The COHb level was indeterminable in 4 cases of which 3 victims were in advanced decomposition and one was exsanguinated. Conclusion: Prevention is key in reducing the morbidity and mortality of Carbon monoxide poisoning that can cause sudden anoxic death and severe neurological sequelae.
Background: Body packing is the concealment of illicit drugs enclosed in containers inside the bo... more Background: Body packing is the concealment of illicit drugs enclosed in containers inside the body by swallowing or insertion into the rectum or vagina, usually for transportation to escape detection by customs agents. This report seeks to explore ways of establishing general definition of body packer in the Moroccan context and assess it's possible implications on data collection and future research. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical retrospective study of two fatal cases related to Cocaine toxicity of body packers. The deceased underwent an autopsy at Medico-legal institute of Ibn Rochd University Hospital (UHC) of Casablanca, Morocco. Cases presentation: In these index cases, 02 male youths of foreign nationality in their twenties died in Casablanca airport. The young men took ill at the airport. Abdominal CT scan subsequently performed at the hospital revealed intra-abdominal capsules in both cases. Autopsy showed 47 whitish capsules in the stomach and colon in the first case and 67 similar capsules in the small intestine in the second case. Rapid toxicology testing in the forensic laboratory confirmed the powder to be cocaine. The cause of death was secondary to acute intoxication by leakage of cocaine substances from their packaging. Conclusion: Prevention and compliance with the legislation governing drug trafficking activities, are of vital interest in reducing the incidence of youth use as vectors of drugs and mortality consequence.
Background: Carbon monoxide threatens its victims with sudden anoxic death and severe neurologica... more Background: Carbon monoxide threatens its victims with sudden anoxic death and severe neurological sequelae. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical retrospective study on 14 cases of deaths due to Carbon monoxide poisoning collected at the Forensic Department of Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca (UHC), over a two years period from January 2018 to December 2019. Results: Among the 14 deaths, there were nine (N=09) male victims (64%) and five (N=05) female (36%), aged 25 to 44 years in 43% of cases and 45 to 64 years in 36% of cases. Vast majority of cases (86%) involved accidental household poisoning. A water heater was incriminated in 36%. The source of Carbon monoxide was related to a defective device (36%). Neurological signs such as disturbances of consciousness were the most common (92%) symptom. The peak poisoning period (50%) occurred in December. Autopsy revealed pulmonary petechial spots (14%) and congestion of most organs. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) was positive in 8 cases with a rate> 5%, including 3 victims with no history of smoking and > 10% among 5 smokers. The value was negative for two victims who received oxygen therapy during hospital resuscitation efforts. The COHb level was indeterminable in 4 cases of which 3 victims were in advanced decomposition and one was exsanguinated. Conclusion: Prevention is key in reducing the morbidity and mortality of Carbon monoxide poisoning that can cause sudden anoxic death and severe neurological sequelae.
Background: Body packing is the concealment of illicit drugs enclosed in containers inside the bo... more Background: Body packing is the concealment of illicit drugs enclosed in containers inside the body by swallowing or insertion into the rectum or vagina, usually for transportation to escape detection by customs agents. This report seeks to explore ways of establishing general definition of body packer in the Moroccan context and assess it's possible implications on data collection and future research. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical retrospective study of two fatal cases related to Cocaine toxicity of body packers. The deceased underwent an autopsy at Medico-legal institute of Ibn Rochd University Hospital (UHC) of Casablanca, Morocco. Cases presentation: In these index cases, 02 male youths of foreign nationality in their twenties died in Casablanca airport. The young men took ill at the airport. Abdominal CT scan subsequently performed at the hospital revealed intra-abdominal capsules in both cases. Autopsy showed 47 whitish capsules in the stomach and colon in the first case and 67 similar capsules in the small intestine in the second case. Rapid toxicology testing in the forensic laboratory confirmed the powder to be cocaine. The cause of death was secondary to acute intoxication by leakage of cocaine substances from their packaging. Conclusion: Prevention and compliance with the legislation governing drug trafficking activities, are of vital interest in reducing the incidence of youth use as vectors of drugs and mortality consequence.
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