Embalming Treatments of Postmortem Conditions

What does chemotherapy do?

Impairs function of liver, circulatory system, kidneys, lungs and skin. Organ dysfunction leads to buildup of nitrogenous wastes and decreases the permeability of cell membranes. Chemo drugs themselves can cause damage to blood vessels thanks to extensive clot formation, lysis of blood cells or extensive damage to the walls of arteries and veins. Widespread formation of areas of discoloration from release of blood pigments from RBC’s is normal in chemo patients. Ecchymosis and purpural hemorrhages are frequent.

What does chemo therapy with antibiotics do?

Antibiotics can intensify embalming problems like when gentamicin and methicillin are combined, bodies tend to become saturated with ammonia and other nitrogenous waste prodcuts. REquires very strong arterial fluid.

What do corticosteroids and anti inflammatory drugs do?

-Corticosteroids are known to decrease the permeability of the cell membrane- as a result, the liquids in cells become trapped, leading to cell turgor and waterlogging of tissues.
-The long term usage of this drug may result in gastrointestinal ulcerations with possible perforations of the gut.
-May exert a protective effect on proteolutic enzymes whihc makes them difficult to denature. Because of this, bodies that appear to have had a trouble free embalming often go bad shortly after.
-Protective effects have been observed on cases using oral contraceptives (progesterone)
-patients on corti have been known to harbor tuberculosis that was thought to be cured, but returns postmortem
-require pre injections with surfactants to facilitate entry of preservatives into cells followed by stronger than normal arterial injections.

What are cytotoxic drugs and what to do they do?

These are chemotherapeutic agents for cancer and they act directly on tumor cells to bring about their death. Kill both malignant and normal cells, releasing nitrogenous wastes.

What are antimetabolite drugs and what do they do?

Cancer chemotherapeutic agent that substitutes essental metabolites required by cancer cells for growth. Causes extensive vitamin deficiency, scurvy and brittle rickets like bone disease.

What do tranquilizers and mood alering drugs do>

Complicate embalming as there is a lack of proteins from malnourishment. Jaundice occurs as these drugs destroy liver cells and causes hemolysis of red blood cells. Kidney function is impaired, leading to constipation and a lack of waste materials exiting the body.

What do oral drugs that control diabetes do?

-Chlorpropamide can cause jaundice
-Continuous use of oral diabetic agents has been linked with circulatory problems and extensive clot formation
-Altered carbohydrate metabolism in these cases can cause acidosis, which forms high concentrations of lactic acid making bodies feel firm very quickly and produce a false positive to the embalmber

What are the green discolorations that occur thanks to jaundice?

-Also referred to as icterus
-occurs as a result of oxidation and bilirubin into biliverdin
-Previously thought to be the result of formaldehyde reacting with bilirubin
-Preservation takes precedence over restoration

Wgat causes a bronze discoloration of the skin?

Addison’s disease

What might cause profuse petechiae?

Luekemia

What discolorations does meningitis induce?

cyanosis, a blotchy erythematous rash (reddening), petechia and purpura

What discolorations may tumors induce?

discolorations in and around the tumor itself may be caused by pathological changes

What skin discolorations are caused by lupus erythematous?

Scaling, red and macular rashes; chronic skin disease

What are surface discoloring agents?

Antemortem or postmortem discolorations occuring prior to (or during) embalming due to the deposit of matter on the body surface. Should be cleaned away prior to injection. Pores of skin are easier to clean at this time as they are still open. The embalmer must be able to see the skin to evaluate if arterial solution is present

What are some examples of surface discoloring agents?

Adhesive tape, blood, grease, ink, iodine, betadine, mold, oil, paint, tobacco tars

What is the mechanical removal of surface discoloring agents?

Use of an abrading device and washing with suitable cleaning agents and soft clothes or brushes

What are the chemical removals for surface discoloring agents?

Use of proper solvents when discoloration cannot be removed by mechanical cleaning

Postmortem discolorations may be present before embalming, but what may happen during embalming?

Become more intense, change in hue or evolve

What are some postmortem discolorations that may change due to embalming?

Razor burns, desiccation marks, formaldehyde gray, conversion of bilirubin in the presence of formaldehyde, eye enucleation discoloration

What are decomposition changes?

Postmortem discoloration due to action of bacterial and/or autolytic enzymes on body tissues. Progressive color changes in tissues.

What are some treatments for decomp discoloration?

-General treatment of discoloration
-Use of sectional hypdermic injections of chemicals designed to bleach and preserve
-Application of surface compresses saturated with a proper bleaching agent

Skin lesions are any traumatic or pathological change in the structure of skin- what are the treatments?

-Disinfect lesion
-Prepare lesion for post embalming restorative treatment

What are skin lesion classifications?

-Skin is unbroken but discolored
-Skin is scaling
-Skin is broken and separated from body

What are the treatments for skin issues?

-Puncture and drain blisters
-remove loose skin
-Apply sectional embalming, either arterial, hypodermic or surface compresses, or all three
-Use restorative art after embalming

How are pustular or ulcerative lesions (carbuncles, furuncles, ulcers, pustules, fever blisters, herpes) treated?

-Aspirate pus from the papule or pustule
-Swab the pocket of the aspirated or ruptured lesion with a proper disinfectant
-Apply sectional embalming, either arterial, hypodermic, or surface compresses, or all three
-Use restorative art after embalming

What other conditions are related to discoloration?

-refrigeration
-Hanging
-Burns
-poisons
-Trauma
-Gunshot
-Carbon monoxide
-drowning
-exsanguination
-electrocution