Post Mortem Blood Changes PDF

10/16/20 Post Mortem Blood Changes 1 Relative Capacities Arteries – 5% Veins – 10% Capillaries – 85% Therefore, majority of resistance to embalming is microscopic 2 Livor Mortis Post mortem settling of blood due to gravity Settles to...

10/16/20 Post Mortem Blood Changes 1 Relative Capacities Arteries – 5% Veins – 10% Capillaries – 85% Therefore, majority of resistance to embalming is microscopic 2 Livor Mortis Post mortem settling of blood due to gravity Settles to dependent areas May begin prior to death as result of weak circulation 3 1  10/16/20 4 Pressure points will not discolour Increases resistance in congested areas Drainage chemicals, pulsator, massaging used to help clear 5 Hemolysis RBC’s break down, releasing hemoglobin into surrounding tissues. Results in permanent stain Noticeable in areas where Livor Mortis is established (blood congestion) 6 2  10/16/20 Pinch test may determine if discolouration livor mortis or hemolysis Only arterial injection gives a clear indication Stain is extravascular, livor mortis is intravascular and therefore flushable with injection 7 Sludging of Blood As blood settles, plasma separates from blood cells and escapes into tissues (therefore happening at capillary level) Called Extravasation 8 Blood left inside vascular system now has a lower moisture level = SLUDGE (thicker, or more viscous) Tissues now have higher moisture level (tertiary edema) 9 3  10/16/20 Blood Coagulation Occurs when temperature approximates or exceeds that of normal living body from Post Mortem Caloricity Refrigeration of the body at the hospital lowers body temperature and reduces amount of clots 10 Blood Coagulation cont’d Clots can act like corks and plug all blood vessels The more liquid the blood, the easier it is for arterial solution to distribute and for all fluids to drain 11 Chicken Fat Clot Begins to form during Agonal Period (immediately prior to death) Slow circulation allows blood elements to separate Clot – two-toned (red and white) Tough/fibrous Will not dissolve with pre-injection 12 4  10/16/20 13 Currant Jelly/Cruor Clot True post-mortem clot Blood in homogenous mass (not yet separated) Red, jelly-like, easily fragmented More prominent in sudden deaths 14 Cruor Clots cont’d Easier to displace If loosely formed, pre-injection may ‘tumble’ clot back into liquid state 15 5  10/16/20 16 White Fibrin Heart Clot Made of fibrin (fibrous, insoluble protein) Final stage of chemical coagulation of blood prior to formation of scar tissue 17 Rare for us to see since arterial fluid and drainage don’t travel through the chambers of the heart 18 6  10/16/20 Clots vs. Sludged - Lessened by refrig. - Worsened by refrig. - Semi-solid mass - Thick, but liquid - Needs to be fragmented - May be re-hydrated - Occurs immediately prior to, - Often begins prior to but most commonly shortly death following death - Cannot gravitate - Will gravitate - May plug drainage path - Discoloured areas may stain, and will increase resistance due to saturation of surrounding tissues - 3 types - continuous motion until moisture content equalized 19 7