Fatal case of obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane caused by hemorrhagic tracheal rupture during bronchoscopy: a multimodal post-mortem imaging case report.

Abstract

Obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP) is a rare but potentially fatal condition characterized by the formation of a fibrin-rich membrane that occludes the airway. We report a case of a 16-year-old girl who died of asphyxia because of massive hemorrhage resulting from partial detachment of an OFTP and tracheal wall rupture during a rigid bronchoscopy procedure. The diagnosis of OFTP was confirmed through post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR), post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), and regional neck autopsy. This case underscores the importance of considering OFTP in patients undergoing bronchoscopy after short-term endotracheal intubation. It also highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by OFTP and demonstrates the forensic value of multimodal post-mortem imaging.