Dead body care

helps nurses to care dead body...

1. DEAD BODY CARE MANDIRA DAHAL

2. Death Death is a irreversible cessation of circulatory, respiratory function or the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem. Signs of Death   Absence of heartbeat and respirations.   Fixed pupils Skin color turns to a waxen pallor and extremities may darken . Body temperatures drops Muscles and sphincters relax, sometimes resulting in release of stool or urine

3. PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES AFTER DEATH 1. Rigor mortis Stiffening of the body that occurs about 2-4hrs after death. Results from a lack of ATP, which causes the muscles to contract, which in turn immobilize the joints It starts in the involuntary muscles( heart, bladder) then progress to head, neck, trunk , extremities . 2.Algor mortis Gradual decrease of the body temperature after death. When blood circulation terminates and hypothalamus ceases to function , body temperature falls down.  

4. 3.Livor mortis Discoloration of body after death. After blood circulation has ceased , the RBC broken down , - leads to discoloration of surrounding tissues 4. Decomposition Tissues after death become soft and eventually liquified by bacterial fermentation . The hotter the temperature, the more rapid the change. So bodies are stored in cool places / embalming

5. Purpose of dead body care To prepare the body for the morgue. To prevent discoloration or deformity of the body. To protect the body from post mortem discharge. DEAD BODY CARE After death the body undergoes many physical changes. So care must be provided as early to prevent tissue damage /disfigurement of body parts.

6. PROCEDURES Care of dead body ,often depends upon the customs and religious beliefs. Nurses provide dignity and sensitivity to the client and family 1.  Check orders for any specimens 2.  Ask for special requests to family ( eg : shaving , a special gown , Bible in hand ) 3.  Remove all equipments , tubes , supplies and dirty linens. 4.  Cleanse the body thoroughly , apply clean sheets 5.  Brush and comb the hairs 6.  The eyelids are closed and held in place for a few seconds , so they remain closed. 7.  Dentures should be in the mouth to maintain facial alignment.

7. 8.  Mouth should be closed. 9.   Remove all the ornaments. 10.  Absorbent pads are placed under the buttocks to take up any feaces and urine released because of muscle sphincter relaxation 11.  All the orifices should be closed. 12.  Cover with a clean sheet up to the chin. 13.  Spray a deodorizer to remove unpleasant odor. 14.  Apply name tag  ( wrist , right big toe) 15.  Allow the family members to view the dead body 16.  The body is wrapped in a large piece or plastic or cotton material used to enclose a body after death. Identification is then applied outside of the wrapper.

8. 17 .  Hand over all the belongings to the relatives. 18.  Do complete documentation in the nursing notes . Time of death and actions taken to prevent the death. Who pronounced the death. Any organ donation Personal articles left on the body Personal items given to family Time of discharge and destination of the body  Location of name tags on the body Special request by family 19. Hand over the dead body to the relatives / sent to the mortuary .

9. THANK YOU !