Death: Agonal and Postmortem Changes
Name the and define a decompositional process
1. Hydrolysis: Involves the production or absorption of water
2. Autolysis: Is the 'self-destruction' of a cell
3. Putrefaction: Is the breakdown of proteins by anaerobic bacteria
4. Decay: Is the breakdown of protein by anaerobic bacteria.
What are the four steps of embalming analysis
1. Observation and evaluation of postmortem conditions
2. Proposed methods of treatment
3. Implementation of treatments
4. Observation and evaluation of results
What are the steps in making the body ready for embalming?
1. Transfer the deceased onto the embalming table
2. Disinfect the body, clothes, and other items topically.
3. Remove body bags, linens, and clothing
4. Inventory, wash, and safeguard property
Name a work practice control utilized when handling hazardous chemicals.
1. Wear protective garments and eye protection
2. Activate the ventilation system
3. Rinse and recap embalming fluid bottles
4. Keep the lid on the embalming machine
During post-injection analysis, other than arterial solution, what conditions should be evaluated?
1. Should cavity embalming be immediate or delayed?
2. Are the features still set properly?
3. Does purge continue?
4. Is the body cleaned and groomed?
5. Are lesions treated?
6. Is there any leakage?
What are the stages of somatic death. Define each stage.
1. Clinical Death: Spontaneous resipiration and heartbeat irreversibly cease; 2. Brain Death: Brain cells die within 5 to 6 minutes; 3. Biological Death: Cessation of Simple Body Processes; 4. Postmortem Cellular Death: Individual cells die over a period of hours.
What information should the funeral director and embalmer exchange and factor into embalming analysis?
1. Condition of the body, especially in regard to viewability
2. Estimated or actual date of disposition
3. Height and weight of the decedent
4. Removal of facial hair, tumors
5. Use of restorative techniques and cosmetics
What are the best practices for shaving the deceased?
1. Contact the family to inquire whether and how to groom facial hair
2. Use warm water, shaving cream, and a new blade
3. Shave prior to embalming.
What are the arterial solution strengths and ranges of dissolved formaldehyde?
1. Mild: 1-1.99%
2. Moderate: 2-3.99%
3. Strong: Above 4%
What are the three conditions of a solution on one side of a semi-permeable membrane relative to the solution on the opposite side?
1. Hypotonic: Less solute than the solution it's compared to
2. Hypotonic: More solute than the solution it's compared to
3. Isotonic: The same solute as the solution it's compared to
Name and define the changes in the body that can occur in the agonal period.
1. Agonal algor/fever: Decrease or increase in body temperature; 2. Agonal hypostasis: Settling of blood into gravity-dependent areas; 3. Agonal edema/dehydration: Excess or lack of moisture in the body tissues; 4. Agonal translocation of microorganisms: By natural motility, hypostasis, or circulation
What three guidelines should always be incorporated into embalming analysis?
1. Embalming analysis should be repeated at every phase of the embalming and beyond
2. The body should be handled as if it harbors a contagious disease
3. Absent reliable information, the embalming should be completed as if disposition will be delayed
What are the most common methods for mouth closure?
1. Needle Injector
2. Mandibular Suture
3. Muscular Suture
What are the strengths of various embalming fluids and their associated index ranges?
2. Medium Index: 16-25
3. High Index: 26-38
Name a commonly-used pre- or co-injection fluid
1. Surfactant
2. Humectant
3. Water Corrective
4. Dye
5. Edema-reducing
Name and define the physical changes that occur in the postmortem period.
1. Algor mortis (cooling); 2. Hypostasis; 3. Livor Mortis: Discoloration arising from hypostasis; 4. Dehydration and increased blood viscosity; 5. Endogenous or exogenous invasion of microoganisms.
Which major factors should be considered during pre-embalming analysis
1. General conditions of the body
2. Effects produced by disease processes
3. Effects produced by medical intervention
4. Effects of the time elapsed between death and embalming
What are some common invasive devices that should be removed from the deceased during the embalming procedure?
1. Abdominal Feeding Tube
2. Surgical Drains
3. Colostomy bag
4. Intravenous Catheter
5. Pacemaker
Name the special-purpose arterial fluids mentioned in the text.
1. Jaundice fluids
2. High-index fluids for "difficult cases"
3. Fluids designed to treat tissue gas and disinfect the body
Name a commonly-used accessory embalming chemical
1. Autopsy gels
2. Cautery chemicals
3. Tissue builder and solvent
4. Hardening compound or embalming powder
Name and define the chemical changes that occur during the postmortem period.
1. Rigor Mortis; 2. Postmortem Stain (the discoloration, not the process of hypostasis); 3. Postmortem Caloricity; 4. Changes in tissue pH; 5. Decomposition
Apply embalming analysis to arterial injection.
1. Is there a part of the body not receiving arterial distribution?
2. What can I do to fix that? (Sectional embalming)
3. Did the sectional embalming solve the problem?
4. If no, what can I do to fix it? (Hypodermic Injection)
What are the three forms of gas that the embalmer might encounter prior to arterial injection?
1. Subcutaneous Emphysema
2. Gas from Decomposition
3. True tissue gas
Name a condition that would indicate increased preservative demand in a body.
1. Kidney disease resulting in elevated nitrogenous waste products in the bloodstream
2. Elapsed time between death and embalming
3. Elapsed time between embalming and disposition
4. Mass of the body
5. Decompositional changes and rigor mortis
6. Secondary dilution from anasarca
Name a goal of embalming.
1. Disinfection
2. Preservation
3. Restoration