Lung Pathology and Presence of Carboxyhaemoglobin in Burn Mortality
Keywords:
Burn injury; Carbon monoxide; Carbon particles; Soot.Abstract
Severe burn injury is among the most devastating injuries that a person can sustain and yet hope to survive. The only regions/body fluids of the body, which yield reliable proof of life of the deceased at the time when the fire occurred are the air passages and the blood. If the deceased had inhaled very hot gases or actual flame, the mucosa of the tongue and larynx may be blistered or shredded and the larynx is often oedematous. The presence of carbon particles/soot in terminal bronchioles on histological examination is usually taken as sufficient proof of life when the fire broke out. The presence of carbon particles and elevated carbon monoxide saturation together generally constitute absolute proof that the victim was alive when the fire occurred.
Published Date
07-Jul-2013
Issue
Section
Articles
