Postmortem angiography using femoral cannulation and postmortem microbiology.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Medical Microbiology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Postmortem angiography offers advantages but raises concerns about contrast media affecting biological samples.
• Cardiac blood is inaccessible for microbiological analysis after postmortem angiography.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the suitability of peripheral blood collected before postmortem angiography for microbiological investigations.
• To determine if postmortem angiography impacts microbiological and biochemical analyses.

Main Methods:

• 66 cases were divided into an angiography/bacteriology group and a control group.
• Peripheral blood was collected pre-angiography via femoral vessels.
• Autopsy, histology, toxicology, bacteriology, and biochemical markers (procalcitonin, CRP, IL-6, sTfR1) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed between the angiography and control groups.
• The distribution of infection categories (unrelated, true, false positive, undetermined) was similar in both groups.
• Femoral blood collection for microbiology did not increase the risk of doubtful results.

Conclusions:

• Postmortem angiography via femoral approach is compatible with peripheral blood collection for microbiology.
• Femoral blood is suitable for microbiological analysis even when postmortem angiography is performed.
• This technique allows for comprehensive postmortem investigations without compromising microbiological integrity.