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Related Experiment Videos

Postmortem intravascular bubbling: a decompression artifact?

C D Brown, W Kime, E L Sherrer

    Journal of Forensic Sciences
    |July 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary

    Intravascular gas bubbles in drowned divers can result from decompression alone, not just air embolism or sickness. Careful interpretation of autopsy findings requires a full diving incident history to distinguish causes.

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    Area of Science:

    • Forensic pathology
    • Diving medicine
    • Hyperbaric physiology

    Background:

    • Drowning in compressed air divers can lead to postmortem findings of intravascular gas bubbles.
    • Distinguishing the cause of these bubbles (decompression, air embolism, or sickness) is crucial for forensic interpretation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the formation of intravascular gas bubbles in drowned animals due to decompression alone.
    • To assess the relationship between decompression, drowning, and the presence of gas bubbles in autopsy.

    Main Methods:

    • Guinea pigs were exposed to compressed air at various pressures (98-392 kPa) and durations.
    • Animals were drowned at depth, followed by various decompression protocols before surface recovery.
    • Autopsy examinations were conducted to identify intravascular gas bubbles.

    Main Results:

    • Intravascular gas bubbles were observed in animals subjected to decompression, even without traumatic air embolism or decompression sickness.
    • The presence and size of bubbles correlated with decompression processes.

    Conclusions:

    • Postmortem intravascular bubbles in drowned divers can be a consequence of decompression alone.
    • Accurate interpretation necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the diving incident, including depth, duration, and ascent patterns prior to drowning.

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