6.1.2: How Did She Die?

By: Ariel Berry And Ella Aspenson

Body Systems:
Immune System
Cardiovascular
System
Circulatory
System
Digestive System
Urinary System
Nervous System



Possible Causes of Death
Stroke
Heart Attack
Organ Failure
Kidney Failure
Sepsis
Ketoacidosis
Splenic Rupture


Final Cause of Death: Ketoacidosis
1975: 14 months old
Symptoms:
High urine output
pale skin, nails and lips
Swelling hands and feet
abdomen is tender and enlarged on left side
Diagnosis:
Splenic sequestration(May 14, 1975)
Sickle Cell Anemia
Severe anemia

1988- 14 years old
Symptoms:
Fatigue
Inability to complete normal activities without need rest
Extreme Thirst
Weight Loss
Occasional tingling sensation
Glucose in urine
Ketone build up in urine

Final Diagnosis: Type 1 Diabetes (May 14, 1988)

2011-37 years old
Symptoms:
Resting heart rate: 90-105
Blood pressure values averaged 142/85
Slight Heart murmur
Consumes three glasses of wine each day
kept up with formalized exercise

Diagnosis: Heart Disease (May 14, 2011)
2011-37 years old
Symptoms:
Total Cholesterol: 389 mg/dl
LDL: 243 mg/dl
HDL: 60 mg/dl
Triglycerides: 145 mg/dl
Fasting blood sugar: 85 mg/dl
Hemoglobin A1c: 7.1%

Diagnosis: Familial Hypercholesterolemia (May 14, 2011)

2012: 38 years old
Symptoms:
Persistent urge to urinate and when she did urinate only a little
amount came out
Urine was cloudy and slightly pink
Fatigue and extreme pain in her extremities
required urinary catheter to empty her bladder
Diagnosis:
Serratia Marcescens- which is a urinary tract infection (May 14, 2012)
Short Term Prevention
Anna could have went to the hospital as soon as she started to experience
symptoms of ketoacidosis
Checking her blood pressure
Physical check-ups and exams
Urinalysis tests
Cardiac testing
Holter Monitoring
Long Term Prevention
Takes a daily aspirin
Does yoga everyday
Takes insulin to control her diabetes
Consuming three glasses of wine each day



Risk Factors
Anna has a family history of early heart disease as well as uncontrolled hypertension.
Diagnosed with tachycardia
Diagnosed as a Diabetic (Type 1)
Diagnosed with Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease
Overweight (165 pounds)
High cholesterol levels:
-Total Cholesterol: 389 mg/dL
-LDL: 243 mg/dL
-Triglycerides: 145 mg/dL
High Blood Glucose Levels
-280 mg/dL (normal range 70-125 mg/dL)

Conclusion Questions
1. Anna Garcia has many different illnesses including, sickle cell disease, type 1 diabetes, heart
disease, and familial hypercholesterolemia. As shown in some of her medical history reports,
Anna was very irresponsible when it came to taking medication and controlling her illnesses.
During one of Annas physical exams, she admitted to eating to eating a diet high in both
calories and fat. This shows how careless Anna Garcia was when it came to caring for her
illnesses. During other physical exams, she was shown to have a high blood glucose level of 280
mg/dL (normal range is 70-130 mg/dL). This also illustrated that she had poorly controlled
diabetes. Ultimately, Anna Garcia died from Ketoacidosis (diabetic shock). Because Anna was
poorly controlling her diabetes, her cells were unable to get energy from glucose so as a result,
they started using fat. When cells start to use fat as a source of energy, it causes ketones to
build up in the urine. In Annas autopsy report she is shown to have a high level of ketones in her
urine. Annas ketone levels were 1.2 mmol/L and which is .6 mmol/L over the normal level.
Before her death she was most likely experiencing symptoms of ketoacidosis. At the scene of
her death a syringe, used to inject insulin was found near her body. Anna was most likely trying
to reach the muscle to inject her insulin right before she went into diabetic shock and died due to
the effects of ketoacidosis.
Conclusion Questions (cont.)
2. Annas death due to ketoacidosis led to a malfunction in the nervous system
and digestive system. This is because high ketone levels are poisonous for the
brain and cause headaches, fatigue, extreme thirst and difficulty thinking.
Ketoacidosis affects the digestive system because it causes dry mouth,
vomiting and nausea, loss of appetite, and stomach pain
3. Before Anna died she probably had extreme pain in her limbs due to
diabetes. She may have also felt the urge to urinate along with painful
urination. One may look pale in the face when suffering from ketoacidosis. She
may have also felt muscles aches and stiffness as well as vomiting. She
probably had a dry mouth and had been thirsty.
4. A medical intervention that could have saved Annas life is if she would have
went to the hospital as soon as she started experiencing symptoms of
ketoacidosis.
(Cont.)
5.
Ariels Career:
Personally I would like to learn more about being a medical examiner.
This seems interesting to me because it seems very hands on and cool to
figure out how a person died.
Ellas Career:
I personally would like to learn more about Crime Scene Investigators.
This career appeals to me because everyday there is something different to do.
There are different case, different scenes, and different kinds of people.
Figuring out mysteries had always been interesting to me. Being a Crime
Scene Investigator would be suspenseful and full of action.