Autopsy Report: Wathik Salah Mihdy, Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq (Natural) (0139-03-CID259-61189) (Death Certificate Included)

ARMED FORCES INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY
Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner

1413 Research Blvd., Bldg. 102 Rockville, MD 20850 1-800-944-7912
AUTOPSY EXAMINATION REPORT
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Autopsy No.: 03-366-B AFIP No.: 2892219 Rank: NADate of Birth: unknown Place of Death: Abu Ghraib Prison, IraqDate of Death: 11 Aug 2003 Place of Autopsy: BIAP, IraqDate of Autopsy: 23 Aug 2003 Date of Report: 19 May 2004
Circumstances of Death: According to reports, other detainees brought this Iraqi male detainee to the gate. He had apparently complained of chest pain during his detention. He appeared to have been dead for some time.
Authorization for Autopsy: Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, IAW 10
USC 1471

Identification: By prisoner number, DNA sample and fingerprints obtained
CAUSE OF DEATH: Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
MANNER OF DEATH: Natural AUTOPSY REPORT ME03-366-BB
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FINAL AUTOPSY DIAGNOSES:
I.NArteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
A. Left anterior descending coronary artery
1.
Segmental 80% stenosis of the proximal segment

2.
80% focal stenosis of the mid segment

B. Right coronary artery
1.
50% multifocal stenoses of the proximal segment

2.
50-75% multifocal stenoses of the distal segment

C. Mild to moderate atherosclerosis of the proximal aorta
D. Focal 90% stenosis of the basilar artery of the brain
II.NCholelithiasis, incidental
III.NEarly decomposition
IV.NNo significant trauma
V.NToxicology negative for ethanol and drugs of abuse
B
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EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The body is that of a 65 inches tall, 180 pounds (estimated) Iraqi male who appears to be older than 50 years. Lividity is posterior and fixed, and rigor is absent. The body is partially frozen.
The scalp is covered with gray-black hair in a normal distribution. There is a beard and mustache. Corneal clouding obscures the irides and pupils. There are no petechiae of the sclerae, conjuctival, or buccal mucosa. The external auditory canals are unremarkable. The ears are unremarkable. The nares are patent and the lips are atraumatic. The nose and maxillae are palpably stable. The teeth appear natural and are in poor repair.
The neck is straight, and the trachea is midline and mobile. The chest is symmetric. The abdomen is flat. The genitalia are those of a normal adult male. The testes are descended and free of masses. Pubic hair is present in a normal distribution. The buttocks and anus
are unremarkable.
The upper and lower extremities are symmetric and without clubbing or edema.
There is early decomposition consisting of corneal clouding, superficial skin slippage on the buttocks and right calf, and slight green discoloration of the skin.
CLOTHING AND PERSONAL EFFECTS
The following clothing items and personal effects are present on the body at the time of
autopsy:
The body is received nude at the time of autopsy.

MEDICAL INTERVENTION
There are no attached medical devices at the time of autopsy.
EVIDENCE OF INJURY
The ordering of the following injuries is for descriptive purposes only, and is not intended to imply order of infliction or relative severity. All wound pathways are given relative to standard anatomic position.
On the skin of the right knee is a 0.4 cm superficial red abrasion. On the anterior left
ankle is a 0.3 cm crusted healing superficial wound.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION
HEAD:
The galeal and subgaleal soft tissues of the scalp are free of injury. The calvarium is intact, as is the dura mater beneath it. Clear cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the 1300 gm brain, which has unremarkable gyri and sulci. Coronal sections demonstrate sharp
demarcation between white and grey matter, without hemorrhage or contusive injury.
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The ventricles are of normal size. The basal ganglia, brainstem, and cerebellum are free
of injury or other abnormalities. There is a focal 90% stenosis of the basilar artery
without plaque hemorrhage, rupture, or thrombosis. There are no skull fractures. The

atlanto-occipital joint is stable.
NECK: Layer wise neck dissection reveals the anterior strap muscles of the neck are homogenous and red-brown, without hemorrhage. The thyroid cartilage and hyoid are intact. The larynx is lined by intact white mucosa. The thyroid is symmetric and red-brown, without cystic or nodular change. The tongue is free of bite marks, hemorrhage, or other injuries.
Incision and dissection of the posterior neck demonstrates no deep paracervical muscular injury and no cervical spine fractures.
BODY CAVITIES:
The ribs, sternum, and vertebral bodies are visibly and palpably intact. Each pleural
cavity contains approximately 10 ml of decomposition fluid. The organs occupy their
usual anatomic positions.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
The right and left lungs weigh 550 and 425 gm, respectively. The external surfaces are
smooth and deep red-purple. The pulmonary parenchyma is diffusely congested and
edematous. No mass lesions or areas of consolidation are present.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:
The 250 gm heart is contained in an intact pericardial sac. The epicardial surface is
smooth, with minimal fat investment. The coronary arteries are present in a normal
distribution, with a right-dominant pattern. Cross sections of the vessels show the left

anterior descending coronary artery has approximate 80% segmental stenosis of the proximal segment and 80% focal stenosis of the mid segment. The right coronary artery has multi-focal 50% stenoses of the proximal segment and 50-75% multifocal stenoses of the distal segment. The myocardium is homogenous, red-purple, and soft. The valve leaflets are thin and mobile. The walls of the left and right ventricles are 1.5 and 0.3-cm thick, respectively. The septum measures 1.5 cm in thickness. The endocardium is smooth and glistening. The aorta gives rise to three intact and patent arch vessels. There is mild to moderate atherosclerosis of the proximal aorta. The renal and mesenteric vessels are unremarkable.
LIVER & BILIARY SYSTEM: The 1300 gm liver has an intact, smooth capsule and a sharp anterior border. The parenchyma is tan-brown and congested, with the usual lobular architecture. No mass lesions or other abnormalities are seen. The gallbladder contains a minute amount of green-black bile and multi-faceted black stones. The mucosal surface is green and
velvety. The extrahepatic biliary tree is patent.
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SPLEEN:
The 50 gm spleen has a smooth, intact, red-purple capsule. The parenchyma is maroon

and congested, with distinct Malpighian corpuscles.

PANCREAS:
The pancreas is firm and yellow-tan, with the usual lobular architecture. No mass lesions

or other abnormalities are seen.

ADRENALS:
The right and left adrenal glands are symmetric, with bright yellow cortices and grey

medullae. No masses or areas of hemorrhage are identified.

GENITOURINARY SYSTEM:
The right and left kidneys weigh 50 gm each and maintain fetal lobulation. The external
surfaces are intact and smooth. The cut surfaces are red-tan and congested, with
uniformly thick cortices and sharp corticomedullary junctions. The pelves are
unremarkable and the ureters are normal in course and caliber. White bladder mucosa
overlies an intact, empty bladder. The prostate is normal in size, with lobular, yellow-tan
parenchyma. The seminal vesicles are unremarkable. The testes are free of mass lesions,
contusions, or other abnormalities

GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT: The esophagus is intact and lined by autolyzed, grey-white mucosa. The stomach contains less than 10 ml of red straw-colored liquid. The gastric wall is intact. The duodenum, loops of small bowel, and colon are unremarkable. The appendix is present
and unremarkable.
ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES
•
Documentary photographs are taken by OAFME photographers

•
Specimens retained for toxicologic testing and/or DNA identification are: vitreous, blood, liver, brain, kidney, and psoas

•
The dissected organs are forwarded with the body

•
Personal effects are released to the appropriate mortuary operations representatives

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION Selected portions of organs are retained in formalin, without preparation of histologic slides. TOXICOLOGY Toxicologic analysis of blood and liver was negative for ethanol and drugs of abuse.