Citation

Nasim RM, Selvaraj T. Indian J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2019; 13(1): 177-180.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Deptartment of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

10.5958/0973-9130.2019.00036.7

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Estimation of time since death is a practical task daily in forensic casework. The main principle of determination of the time since death is the calculation of a measurable time which will be immensely useful for the investigation of unnatural death by the investigating police officer. Vitreous humor is a fluid that is relatively well protected from postmortem degradation and contamination due to its postmortem stability. The biochemical constituents of vitreous humor, especially potassium have been widely used in postmortem interval examination. The time dependent rise of vitreous potassium levels in the post mortem period has been considered to be helpful in PMI determination. Out of 100 autopsy cases in GRH Madurai when dying of natural and unnatural causes, TSD was estimated using vitreous humor electrolytes changes. A linear association was obtained upto certain hours, when mean value of k+ level plotted against PMI on a graph. © 2019, Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; burn; female; male; autopsy; head injury; hanging; intoxication; falling; electrolyte disturbance; electrocution; time of death; prospective study; sodium; potassium; autolysis; Article; snakebite; time perception; vitreous body; Potassium; Postmortem interval; chloride; postmortem change; Vitreous humor; postmortem interval examination