| Animal Experiment for the Analysis of Postmortem Inhalation Degree by Drowning Medium Containing Methylene Blue. |
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Jeong Won Hong, Cheol Ho Choi, Youn Shin Kim |
1Department of Forensic Medicine, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea. ysk007@hotmail.com
2Department of Forensic Medicine Investigation, Seoul Institute of Scientific Investigation, Seoul, Korea. |
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| Abstract |
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Drowning is a leading cause of accidental deaths worldwide, but its pathological diagnosis remains a challenge for forensic pathologists owing to a lack of pathognomonic findings in drowning deaths and inconclusive autopsy findings caused by postmortem changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathway taken by inhaled drowning medium through the airway after death in a variety of experimental conditions, including underwater pressurization. We used methylene blue dye to monitor the spread of drowning medium to the lungs. Results of theses experiments demonstrated that it is possible for a significant amount of downing medium to enter the airway during immersion after death. Our results suggest that autopsies of immersed bodies and interpretation of these findings should be performed with special care. |
| Key Words:
Drowning, Immersion, Underwater pressurization, Methylene blue, Autopsy |
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