Evaluation of Sodium and Chloride Biochemical Tests in Drowning Autopsy Cases
10.7580/kjlm.2019.43.4.129
- Author:
Joo Young NA
1
;
Yeon Ho OH
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea. pdrdream@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Drowning;
Body fluids;
Biochemistry;
Autopsy
- MeSH:
Autopsy;
Biochemistry;
Body Fluids;
Cerebrospinal Fluid;
Diagnosis;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Drowning;
Fresh Water;
Seawater;
Sodium;
Sphenoid Sinus;
Vitreous Body
- From:Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
2019;43(4):129-137
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
There are several diagnostic findings required for confirming a postmortem diagnosis of drowning. However, postmortem diagnosis of drowning remains challenging for forensic pathologists. In previous reports, several biochemical tests using various body fluids have been studied for their potential use in the postmortem diagnosis of drowning. In this study, the concentration of sodium and chloride was tested in various postmortem body fluids (vitreous humor, sphenoid sinus fluid, pleural fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.) and their results were interpreted for their potential use in postmortem diagnosis of drowning. We examined 67 autopsy cases (freshwater drowning, 12 cases; seawater drowning, 16 cases; control group, 39 cases). The sodium and chloride concentration in the vitreous humor, sphenoid sinus fluid, and pleural fluid significantly correlated with each other. Furthermore, the concentrations of sodium, chloride, and the sum of the concentrations of the two in the various postmortem body fluids were significantly different in the three groups, when compared with each other (generally the concentration being the highest in the seawater drowning group, followed by the control group and the freshwater drowning group). Biochemical tests using various postmortem body fluids may serve as useful indicators for the postmortem diagnosis of drowning and for the differential diagnosis between freshwater and seawater drowning.
