The objective of medico-legal autopsies in sudden and natural deaths is to rule out the possibility of any unnatural element of death in otherwise normal individual. The aim of the present study was to study CNS related causes of sudden death. Materials & Method: This autopsy based retrospective research was conducted at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore from the cases autopsied at District Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore from 2004 to 2008.  Out of 2515 autopsies conducted during the study period 274(10.89%) were of sudden death, of which 29(10.58%) were due to CNS related diseases. Out of which 86.21% were male and 13.79% were female. In our study, rupture of aneurysm leading to the subarachnoid hemorrhage was found to be the main cause of CNS related sudden death. The most common age group in which most of the CNS related sudden deaths (62%) occurred was found out to be 40-60 years. This study emphasizes need to create awareness among people about health and regular medical checkup, especially after 40 years of age.

 

Key Words: Sudden death; Central Nervous System; Autopsy.