Preservation of dead body

Preservation of dead body

1. Preservation Of Dead Bodies Dr.Nafeeya Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

2. Methods Cold storage method Embalming technique Museum techniques

3. Cold storage Short or long time. Few weeks . Slows the decomposition process last two to four weeks. 2 types Freezing – does not preventing the transmission of coronavirus. Positive temperature (2-8) Negative temperature (-10 -50)

4. Covid -19 Experimental study -Detected -72 hours Remain infectious upto 9 days Temperature >30 degree Celsius Mortuary decontamination procedure Surface disinfectant 0.1 % - sodium hypocholorite 0.5 % - hydrogen peroxide solution 70 % ethanol Kills coronavirus in 1 minute

5. Embalming - is the art and science of preserving human bodies by treating them with chemical to prevent decomposition. Public display at a funeral Religious purpose Research purpose long distance transport Life like appearance

6. Arterial method – MC Cavity method Hypodermic Surface Composition Formalin -1.5 litre Buffer 1-sodium borate 600g Buffer 2-sodium chloride -800 g Wetting agent-Glycerin -600ml Anti coagulant – sodium citrate -900g Dye-eosin 1%-30 ml Perfuming agent –oil wintercherry90ml 7-10 liters of water. Common Carotid Artery. Femoral Artery

7. Embalming jar Cannula insertion Tie the knot Sutured

8. Mechanism of action Embalming chemical cannot be broken down by bacteria Reactive centers Destroy that reactive centers The germicide & preservative inactivate body enzyme Destroy both pathogenic & non pathogenic bacteria .

9. The embalmed body can last two or more weeks. 48 hours or more- unsatisfactory Certain amount of darkening of the skin Generalized swelling of the body Hard to feel. Disadvantages

10. Difficult to judge about injuries Destroy cyanide , alcohol,opiates,CO & other substances Difficult to extract drugs Blood grouping cannot be made out Thrombi & emboli washed away Vitreous humour Synovial fluid Bile Muscle mass

11. Museum storage Formalin preservation Plastination method Cryogenics techniques Peat bog preservation Taxidermy

12. Formalin technique A small incision -lower part of the deceased's abdomen Trocar (a sharp surgical instrument) Drained of gas and fluid contents. Formaldehyde-based chemicals are subsequently injected. 250 days

13. Plastination technique Gunther von -1970 Involves – embalming & formaldehyde fixation Partially or completely dissected Sub zero acetone Freezes Cells replaced by acetone Bath-Polyester ,silicon rubber Replaces with plastic

14. Cryogenic techniques -196 degree celsius Too costly Pure nitrogen brain & internal organs Packed with ice

15. Peat bog preservation Sphagnum moss Thrown – bogs Highly acidic water, Low temperature , Lack of oxygen Not only preserve Tan the skin Bog bod I e s Tollund man 4 th century BC

16. Taxidermy Rarely done for humans preserving vertebrate animal remains. Alum & borax Display purpose Illegal for humans >181 years old corpse- english philosopher Auto icon Life like effect

17. Forensic aspects

18. Effects of body-refrigerator chamber Rigor mortis & putrefaction – delayed No effects on pm staining Postmortem cooling is faster Surface of body –Reddish patches Injuries – intensified appearance Tissues – hard After onset of putrefaction Putrefaction is not arrested

19. Embalming of autopsied body Before stitching up, throco -abdominal & cranial cavity is sponged with embalming fluid viscera – treated with embalming fluid covering & packed with soaked sponge Placed within the body cavity & stitched up Infectious bodies- concentration will be raised

20. Medicolegal aspects Embalming should never be allowed before autopsy-induce artefact & difficult to judge findings . Chemical stiffening – time since death Occupational hazards –formaldehyde –Irritation & Asthma ,COPD, Disaster – refrigerator trucks /ice slab

21. References Mario Gabriella et al-International journal of infectious disease J Mathew lacy et al -American Journal Of Forensic Medicine & Pathology Erich benner et al – Journal of anatomy Shanae riddel et al– Journal of virology Aravind pal singh batra et al –International journal of forensic & legal medicine Anil Aggrawal textbook of forensic medicine and toxicology Narayana reddy text book of forensic medicin e and toxicology