Post-mortem fluid stasis in the sinus, trachea and mainstem bronchi; A computed tomography study in adults and children

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess occurrence of fluid stasis in the sinus, trachea and mainstem bronchi on PMCT. Materials and methods: Patients were collected from different groups, two adult and two paediatric groups. Patients who died from drowning or evident trauma to head and neck were excluded. Results: Adults. Two-hundred-and-one PMCT scans, 118 (59%) males and 83 (41%) females. Age was known for 185/201 subjects (92%), median was 79 years (IQR 66-85 years).The frontal sinus contained fluid in 13/194 (7%), the left maxillary sinus contained fluid in 31/198 (16%), the right in 42/198 (21%). In 19/201 (9%) fluid was present in the trachea at the level of the subglottis, in 37/201 (18%) at the midlevel, 72/201 (36%) at the carina, 91/201 (45%) at the left and in 82/201 (41%) at the right mainstem bronchus. Children: Seventy-seven PMCT scans, 42 (55%) boys and 35 (45%) girls. median age was 0.5 years (IQR 3 months-6 years).The frontal sinus contained fluid in 3/76 (4%), the left maxillary sinus in 14/52 (27%), the right in 13/52 (25%), in 18/77 (24%) fluid was present in the trachea at the subglottic level, in 32/77 (42%) at the midlevel, in 36/77 (47%) at the level of the carina, in 34/77 (44%) at the left and in 37/77 (48%) at the right main stem bronchus. Conclusion: The presence of fluid in the sinuses, trachea and/or mainstem bronchi Is common in non-drowning cases and Is a normal finding in PMCT.