A frozen newborn infant: froth in the air-passage after thawing

We performed an autopsy on a frozen newborn infant who was found in a freezer at -18 degrees C. After thawing, froth emerged from the nostrils and was present in the trachea. Sometimes froth may be seen in the air-passage in cases of strangulation and drowning. In our case, however, there was neither proof of asphyxia due to strangulation nor drowning. The existence of the froth indicates that the infant was probably in a state of respiratory distress before death. Histologic findings of the lung showed that the infant did not suffer from respiratory disorders such as respiratory distress syndrome. Karyopyknosis and vacuolation of the keratinocytes, shrinkage of the hepatocytes, dilatation of the sinusoid, spaces between heart muscle fibers and deep staining of the nuclei and hemolysis were characteristic in our case. This case shows that froth persists in the internal air-passage for a long time as a result of freezing. Moreover, the froth in the air-passage, along with the findings of the lungs, demonstrates that the newborn infant was born alive.