Thevetia peruviana or Yellow Oleander (Apocynaceae) Poisoning with Myocardial Bridging: An Autopsy-Based Case Report.

Abstract

Autopsy surgeons routinely encounter cases involving alleged use of poison. Many of these cases are due to poisonous plant species that grow wildly in different regions of the world and are readily accessible to the general population. Thevetia peruviana (syn. Cascabela thevetia) is a cardiotoxic evergreen shrub that is native to Latin America and has been introduced horticulturally to other global tropical and subtropical regions with subsequent establishment among the native flora. The cardiac glycosides found in the plant have digoxin-like effects. A 50-y-old male with an alleged history of accidental ingestion of T peruviana was brought for autopsy to the mortuary at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. This case report highlights the postmortem findings in a case of T peruviana poisoning. It provides valuable insights for autopsy surgeons, ensuring their preparedness when confronted with similar cases.