Fatal Ogilvie’s syndrome after hip surgery and review of the literature

Abstract

Ogilvie’s syndrome refers to a massive dilation of the colon without mechanical obstruction. Although this syndrome is well-known in the clinical literature and may sometimes be encountered as a complication of abdominal, pelvic, or hip surgery, it has only been reported sporadically in the forensic literature. We present the case of a forensic autopsy carried out on a patient whose death was related to cecal necrosis with acute peritonitis due to Ogilvie’s syndrome following hip surgery. This diagnosis was based on clinical data, post-mortem imagery, autopsy findings, histological analysis, post-mortem chemistry, and microbiological analysis. A review of the literature and possible physiopathology of this disease are performed, while focusing on medico-legal perspectives.