Artefacts due to putrefactive gas production - an overview.

IF 1.5 4区 医学 Q1 LAW Medicine, Science and the Law Pub Date : 2024-08-16 DOI:10.1177/00258024241275894
Roger W Byard
{"title":"Artefacts due to putrefactive gas production - an overview.","authors":"Roger W Byard","doi":"10.1177/00258024241275894","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autolytic and putrefactive processes can cause considerable alterations to soft tissues and internal organs that may complicate forensic assessments. An overview was undertaken of the range of taphonomonic changes and processes that may result from postmortem putrefactive gas accumulation. The most commonly encountered phenomenon was purging of putrefactive fluids from the nose and mouth that was on occasion confused with bleeding from antemortem trauma. Much less common was putrefactive 'rigor mortis' where the limbs extend due to the accumulation of soft tissue and subcutaneous gas. This may sometimes be associated with alteration of the position of a body suggesting that it had been deliberately moved. Distension and stretching of the skin and subcutaneous tissues may cause recently sutured surgical incisions to dehisce, raising the possibility of inflicted incised wounds. Raised intra-abdominal pressures may cause diaphragmatic herniation of small intestine and has been associated with so-called 'coffin birth' where a fetus is expelled from the uterus after death due to pressure on the fundus. Gas accumulation on postmortem computed tomography examination may be confused with air embolism or the effects of trauma. All of these changes are the result of anaerobic bacterial action generating gases such as methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide resulting in pressure gradients.</p>","PeriodicalId":18484,"journal":{"name":"Medicine, Science and the Law","volume":" ","pages":"258024241275894"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Medicine, Science and the Law","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00258024241275894","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"LAW","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Autolytic and putrefactive processes can cause considerable alterations to soft tissues and internal organs that may complicate forensic assessments. An overview was undertaken of the range of taphonomonic changes and processes that may result from postmortem putrefactive gas accumulation. The most commonly encountered phenomenon was purging of putrefactive fluids from the nose and mouth that was on occasion confused with bleeding from antemortem trauma. Much less common was putrefactive 'rigor mortis' where the limbs extend due to the accumulation of soft tissue and subcutaneous gas. This may sometimes be associated with alteration of the position of a body suggesting that it had been deliberately moved. Distension and stretching of the skin and subcutaneous tissues may cause recently sutured surgical incisions to dehisce, raising the possibility of inflicted incised wounds. Raised intra-abdominal pressures may cause diaphragmatic herniation of small intestine and has been associated with so-called 'coffin birth' where a fetus is expelled from the uterus after death due to pressure on the fundus. Gas accumulation on postmortem computed tomography examination may be confused with air embolism or the effects of trauma. All of these changes are the result of anaerobic bacterial action generating gases such as methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide resulting in pressure gradients.

查看原文
分享 分享
微信好友 朋友圈 QQ好友 复制链接
本刊更多论文
腐败气体产生的假象--综述。
自溶和腐败过程可对软组织和内脏器官造成巨大改变,从而使法医评估工作复杂化。我们对死后腐败气体积聚可能导致的一系列尸变和过程进行了概述。最常见的现象是从口鼻排出腐败液体,有时会与死前创伤出血相混淆。较少见的是腐败性 "僵直",即由于软组织和皮下气体积聚导致四肢伸展。这有时可能与尸体位置的改变有关,表明尸体被故意移动过。皮肤和皮下组织的膨胀和拉伸可能会导致新近缝合的手术切口开裂,从而增加了造成切口的可能性。腹腔内压力升高可能会导致小肠横膈膜疝出,并与所谓的 "棺材分娩 "有关,即胎儿死后因胃底受压而从子宫中排出。死后计算机断层扫描检查中的气体积聚可能与空气栓塞或外伤的影响相混淆。所有这些变化都是厌氧细菌作用产生气体(如甲烷、二氧化碳和硫化氢)造成压力梯度的结果。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 去求助
来源期刊
Medicine, Science and the Law
Medicine, Science and the Law 医学-医学:法
CiteScore
2.90
自引率
6.70%
发文量
53
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: Medicine, Science and the Law is the official journal of the British Academy for Forensic Sciences (BAFS). It is a peer reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the knowledge of forensic science and medicine. The journal aims to inform its readers from a broad perspective and demonstrate the interrelated nature and scope of the forensic disciplines. Through a variety of authoritative research articles submitted from across the globe, it covers a range of topical medico-legal issues. The journal keeps its readers informed of developments and trends through reporting, discussing and debating current issues of importance in forensic practice.
期刊最新文献
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) within prisons and the criminal justice system. A case of Sudden Cardiac Death with myocardial infarction due to iatrogenic coronary dissection in a patient with coronary vasospasm. Correction of a statistical error: The data does not show Letby's presence at the baby deaths could have occurred by chance. Parricide and homicide NGRI offenders: How do they differ? Features of fatal pesticide ingestion in South Australia.
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
现在去查看 取消
×
提示
确定
0
微信
客服QQ
Book学术公众号 扫码关注我们
反馈
×
意见反馈
请填写您的意见或建议
请填写您的手机或邮箱
已复制链接
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
×
扫码分享
扫码分享
Book学术官方微信
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术
文献互助 智能选刊 最新文献 互助须知 联系我们:info@booksci.cn
Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。
Copyright © 2023 Book学术 All rights reserved.
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号 京ICP备2023020795号-1