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Related Experiment Videos

Postmortem diffusion of alcohol from the stomach

D J Pounder1, D R Smith

  • 1Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Dundee, Scotland.

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|June 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary
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Postmortem ethanol diffusion from the stomach into blood, particularly the aorta, can occur. Refrigeration significantly inhibits this diffusion, suggesting it

Area of Science:

  • Forensic toxicology
  • Postmortem studies
  • Human cadaver research

Background:

  • Postmortem ethanol measurements are crucial in forensic investigations.
  • Artefactual elevation of blood ethanol concentrations can complicate interpretation.
  • Understanding ethanol diffusion postmortem is essential for accurate toxicological analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate postmortem ethanol diffusion from the stomach into various blood sampling sites.
  • To determine factors influencing postmortem ethanol diffusion, including concentration, time, and temperature.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of artefactual ethanol elevation in postmortem aortic blood.

Main Methods:

  • Human cadavers were used to model postmortem ethanol diffusion.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Alcohol solutions of varying concentrations were instilled into the stomach via an esophageal tube.
  • Blood and fluid samples were collected from multiple sites at different time points (24h, 48h) and temperatures (room temp, 4°C).

    • Main Results:

    • Ethanol concentrations were highest in pericardial fluid, followed by pulmonary vein and aorta.
    • Diffusion was time-dependent, proportional to ethanol concentration, and significantly inhibited by refrigeration.
    • Similar aortic ethanol levels were observed after esophageal instillation, suggesting gastroesophageal reflux as a mechanism.

    Conclusions:

    • Postmortem ethanol diffusion from the stomach and esophagus can lead to artefactual elevation of aortic blood ethanol.
    • Refrigeration is an effective method to inhibit postmortem ethanol diffusion.
    • Findings have implications for the interpretation of postmortem ethanol toxicology results.