Keywords
Blunt instrument
Vasovagal reflex
Exogenous intoxication
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Abstract
Objective: To report two cases of death with the presence of a non-lethal firearm projectile injury, through the autopsy reports, reviewing the possible causes and diagnoses of exclusion. Case details: The two cases analyzed were victims of gunshot wounds and died, being referred for necropsy examination. The injuries found did not have the ability to produce death – non-lethal injuries. Thus, the cause of death was investigated. The vasovagal reflex can cause death from cardiorespiratory arrest, when reflex areas of the body are stimulated, leaving no apparent signs at necropsy. Other causes that would lead to death without showing external signs need to be investigated and excluded, such as exogenous intoxication. One of the cases died due to the vasovagal reflex due to injury close to the reflex area, known as death by inhibition. The other case had lethal blood levels of cocaine and the cause of death was exogenous cocaine intoxication. Final considerations: Death by inhibition can be defined as the cause of death when there are lesions close to reflex areas, non-lethal, without other causes that justify death.
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