The use of post‐mortem lividity to determine sleep position in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy

Rebecca A Shipstone; John Thompson; Jeanine Young; Roger W Byard

doi:10.1111/apa.14834

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The use of post‐mortem lividity to determine sleep position in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The use of post‐mortem lividity to determine sleep position in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy

Rebecca A Shipstone, John Thompson, Jeanine Young and Roger W Byard

Acta Paediatrica, Vol.109(6), pp.1162-1165

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.14834

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Abstract

hypostasis

lividity

sleep position

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI)

Aim: To compare parental reports of position found in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) to autopsy reports of lividity, to more accurately classify infant sleep position. Methods: Cases of SUDI in Queensland between 2010 and 2014 were reviewed to determine the position in which infants were reported to have been placed and found. This was compared to the distribution of post-mortem lividity at autopsy. Evidence of lividity present during early death scene investigation was also recorded. Results: There was a discordance between the position an infant was reported to have been found and the position of lividity at autopsy in 22/228 SUDI (9.6%). All infants had anterior lividity despite 13 reportedly found supine, three on their side, and six in an unknown position. Using anterior lividity at autopsy to change the position found increased the proportion of prone infants from 37.7% to 47.4%. In 47.8% cases, anterior or lateral lividity reported at the scene was no longer present at autopsy. Conclusion: Previously published odds ratios may have under estimated the risk of sudden infant death associated with prone sleep position. SUDI death scene investigation protocols should require photographic documentation of lividity prior to transporting an infant.

Details

Title: The use of post‐mortem lividity to determine sleep position in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy
Authors: Rebecca A Shipstone (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine
John Thompson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine
Jeanine Young (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine
Roger W Byard (Author) - The University of Adelaide
Publication details: Acta Paediatrica, Vol.109(6), pp.1162-1165
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.1111/apa.14834
ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
Copyright note: Copyright © 2020 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. This is the accepted version of the following article: Shipstone, R., Thompson, J.M., Young, J. and Byard, R.W. (2020), The use of post-mortem lividity to determine sleep position in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy. Acta Paediatr, 109: 1162-1165. doi:10.1111/apa.14834, which has been published in final form at doi:10.1111/apa.14834
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nursing; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450733602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Pediatrics

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