A post-mortem examination conducted on Pratik Yadav’s body found that he had suffered “cardio-respiratory collapse due to massive pulmonary thromboembolism”, indicating that a large blood clot had severely obstructed blood flow in the lungs and caused sudden cardiac and respiratory failure, according to the autopsy report seen by HT.
The results indicate that Yadav was suffering from a critical pulmonary thromboembolism at the time of death. Medically speaking, pulmonary thromboembolism occurs when blood clots travel through the bloodstream and become lodged in the arteries of the lungs, obstructing blood circulation and oxygen exchange. Doctors describe the condition as potentially fatal, especially when the clot burden is extensive and causes sudden collapse.
Medical experts said such clots usually originate in the deep veins in the legs or lower part of the body before moving to the lungs. In severe cases, patients can experience sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, collapse, and cardiac arrest within minutes.
The post-mortem report stated that the entire heart, along with the pulmonary thromboembolism material, was preserved in formalin for detailed histopathological examination. Laboratory analysis is expected to accurately determine the nature, age and origin of the clot material and evaluate associated pathological changes in the cardiovascular system.
In addition, viscera samples were preserved and delivered to the relevant authorities for chemical analysis. Officials indicated that the final medical opinion in the case will depend on the results of anatomical and forensic laboratory tests.
HT contacted several medical and forensic experts, including Chief Medical Officer Dr NP Singh, for comment on the autopsy findings. However, officials declined to comment or stated that conclusive observations would emerge only after the pending laboratory tests are completed. The report also indicated that all injuries observed on the body were “antemortem,” meaning they occurred before death. Officials said some of the external signs may have been caused by shock related to the collapse.
