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Case Reports
. 2020 Aug 6:36:255.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.255.21058. eCollection 2020.

Professional accountability in a sternal bone marrow aspiration: a forensic case report

Sami Bardaa  1 , Narjes Karray  1 , Zouhir Hammami  1 , Samir Maatoug  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Professional accountability in a sternal bone marrow aspiration: a forensic case report

Sami Bardaa et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

An aortic injury with concomitant pericardial tamponade caused by sternal bone marrow aspiration is rare. We report a case of fatal sternal bone marrow aspiration performed to a 73 year old man for the purpose of confirming the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. This puncture was followed by an injury in the aorta causing a pericardial tamponade and the death of the patient immediately after the aspiration. This paper stresses the precautions to be taken, by the operator, in certain particular situations that make the sternal bone marrow aspiration difficult and risky, and discusses the different types of operator´s liability that can be involved and their foundations.

Keywords: Sternal bone marrow aspiration; aortic injury; liability; malpractice; pericardial tamponade.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a crossing of the posterior table of the sternum by the trocar
Figure 2
Figure 2
fluid and coagulated blood in the pericardial cavity
Figure 3
Figure 3
a perforating wound of the ascending part of the aorta
Figure 4
Figure 4
a wound on the inside of the aorta
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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