Evaluation of Methods Used in Diagnosis of Fatal Hypothermia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17986/blm.2014192804Keywords:
hypothermia, death, autopsy, forensic medicineAbstract
Post-mortem diagnosis of hypothermia-induced deaths is still a challenging issue, today. Because of lack of findings and markers used for definitive diagnosis, cases of deaths secondary to hiporthermia either remain undiagnosed or end up with an exclusion diagnosis. However, thanks to improvements in forensic sciences, literature has reported a great number of considerable methods and markers promising in the diagnosis of fatal hypothermia. In this paper we aimed to attract attention of forensic medicine professionals to the issue by discussing findings and markers suggesting and/or indicating fatal hypothermia, in the light of the literature.
Keywords: Hypothermia, death, autopsy, forensic medicine
Downloads
References
Dolinak, D., E.W. Matshes, and E.O. Lew, Forensic Pathology Principles and Practice. 2005, China: Elsevier Inc. Elsevier Academic Press, p. 248-250.
DiMaio, V.J. and D. Dimaio, Forensic Pathology Second Edition, ed. V.J. Geberth. 2001: CRC Press LLC, p. 230-235
Knight, B., Knight's Forensic Pathology. 2004, Great Britain: Arnold. p. 662.
Nixdorf-Miller, A., D.M. Hunsaker, and J.C. Hunsaker III, Hypothermia and Hyperthermia Medicolegal. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. , 2006. 130: p. 1297-1304. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5858/2006-130-1297-HAHMIO
Exton, N. and A. Smith, Accidental Hypothermia. British Medical Journal, 1973. 4(Medicine in Old Age): p. 727-729. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.4.5894.727
Ergönen, A.T., Hipotermiye Bağlı Ölümler. Türkiye Klinikleri J Foren Med, 2011. 8(1): p. 28-36.
Mizukami, H., et al., Forensic diagnosis of death from cold. Leg Med (Tokyo), 1999. 1(4): p. 204-9.
Mommsen, P., et al., Accidental hypothermia in multiple trauma patients. Zentralbl Chir, 2012. 137(3): p. 264-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1262604
Mommsen, P., et al., Effects of accidental hypothermia on posttraumatic complications and outcome in multiple trauma patients. Injury, 2013. 44(1): p. 86-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2011.10.013
Alty, J.E. and H.L. Ford, Multi-system complications of hypothermia: a case of recurrent episodic hypothermia with a review of the pathophysiology of hypothermia. Postgrad Med J, 2008. 84(992): p. 282-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2007.066050
Kempainen, R. and D. Brunette, The Evaluation and Management of Accidental Hypothermia. Respiratory Care 2004. 49: p. 192-205.
Mrlian A, Smrcka M, and Klabusay M, The use of controlled mild hypothermia and immune system status in patients with severe brain injury. Bratsl Lek Listy, 2006. 5: p. 113-117.
Hayes, G.M., Severe seizures associated with traumatic brain injury managed by controlled hypothermia, pharmacologic coma, and mechanical ventilation in a dog. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio), 2009. 19(6): p. 629-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00478.x
Hall, N.J., et al., Mild controlled hypothermia in preterm neonates with advanced necrotizing enterocolitis. Pediatrics, 2010. 125(2): p. e300-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-3211
G. Kernbach-Wighton, H.K., P. Schwanke, P. Saur, R. Sprung, Clinical and morphological aspects of death due to liquid nitrogen. Int J Legal Med, 1998: p. 191-195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140050148
Brandstrom, H., et al., Fatal hypothermia: an analysis from a sub-arctic region. Int J Circumpolar Health, 2012. 71(0): p. 1-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18502
Madea, B., M. Tsokos, and J. Preub, Death due to hypothermia, in Forensic Pathology Reviews B. Madea, Editor. 2008, Humana Press: Totwa, NJ.
Mizukami, H., et al., Forensic diagnosis of death from cold. Legal Medicine, 1991. 1: p. 204-209. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1344-6223(99)80039-X
Hejna, P., L. Zatopkova, and M. Tsokos, The diagnostic value of synovial membrane hemorrhage and bloody discoloration of synovial fluid ("inner knee sign") in autopsy cases of fatal hypothermia. Int J Legal Med, 2012. 126(3): p. 415-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-012-0677-7
Aghayev, E., et al., MRI detects hemorrhages in the muscles of the back in hypothermia. Forensic Sci Int, 2008. 176(2-3): p. 183-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.08.008
Michiue, T., et al., Cardiothoracic ratio in postmortem chest radiography with regard to the cause of death. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2010. 12(2): p. 73-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.11.007
Mallet, M.L., Pathophysiology of accidental hypothermia. Q J Med., 2002. 95: p. 775-785. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/95.12.775
Li, D.R., et al., Evaluation of postmortem calcium and magnesium levels in the pericardial fluid with regard to the cause of death in medicolegal autopsy. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2009. 11 Suppl 1: p. S276-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.01.028
Zhu, B.L., et al., Evaluation of postmortem serum calcium and magnesium levels in relation to the causes of death in forensic autopsy. Forensic Sci Int, 2005. 155(1): p. 18-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.10.016
Zhu, B.L., et al., Evaluation of postmortem urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid levels in pericardial fluid in forensic autopsy. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2005. 7(5): p. 287-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2005.04.005
Jakubeniene, M., et al., Post-mortem investigation of calcium content in liver, heart, and skeletal muscle in accidental hypothermia cases. Forensic Sci Int, 2009. 190(1-3): p. 87-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.05.017
Jakubeniene, M., et al., Investigation of calcium and sodium in postmortem material as biochemical markers defining the cause of death from hypothermia. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2009. 11 Suppl 1: p. S304-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.01.035
Wang, Q., et al., Combined analyses of creatine kinase MB, cardiac troponin I and myoglobin in pericardial and cerebrospinal fluids to investigate myocardial and skeletal muscle injury in medicolegal autopsy cases. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2011. 13(5): p. 226-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2011.05.002
Li, D.R., et al., Evaluation of postmortem S100B levels in the cerebrospinal fluid with regard to the cause of death in medicolegal autopsy. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2009. 11 Suppl 1: p. S273-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.02.042
Yoshida, C., et al., Postmortem biochemistry and immunohistochemistry of chromogranin A as a stress marker with special regard to fatal hypothermia and hyperthermia. Int J Legal Med, 2011. 125(1): p. 11-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-009-0374-3
Ishikawa, T., et al., Evaluation of postmortem serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone with special regard to fatal hypothermia. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2009. 11 Suppl 1: p. S228-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.02.049
Ishikawa, T., et al., Immunohistochemistry of catecholamines in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system with special regard to fatal hypothermia and hyperthermia. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2010. 12(3): p. 121-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2010.01.004
Quan, L., et al., Postmortem serotonin levels in cerebrospinal and pericardial fluids with regard to the cause of death in medicolegal autopsy. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2011. 13(2): p. 75-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2010.11.003
Ishikawa, T., et al., Postmortem biochemistry and immunohistochemistry of adrenocorticotropic hormone with special regard to fatal hypothermia. Forensic Science International, 2008. 179(2-3): p. 147-151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.04.023
Quan, L., et al., Postmortem serum levels of pulmonary surfactant-associated proteins A and D with regard to the cause of death in medicolegal autopsy. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2009. 11 Suppl 1: p. S301-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.01.011
Zhu, B.L., et al., Postmortem serum catecholamine levels in relation to the cause of death. Forensic Sci Int, 2007. 173(2-3): p. 122-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.02.013
Maeda, H., T. Ishikawa, and T. Michiue, Forensic biochemistry for functional investigation of death: concept and practical application. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2011. 13(2): p. 55-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2010.12.005
Quan, L., et al., Postmortem serum erythropoietin levels in establishing the cause of death and survival time at medicolegal autopsy. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2008. 122(6): p. 481-487. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0276-9
Norito Tabata, M.F., Takuya Ikeda, Jun-ichi Azumi, Masahiko Morita, On an accident by liquid nitrogen. Forensic science International, 1995. 76: p. 61-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(95)01798-4
Ishikawa, T., et al., Immunohistochemical investigation of ubiquitin and myoglobin in the kidney in medicolegal autopsy cases. Forensic Sci Int, 2007. 171(2-3): p. 136-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.10.016
Preuss, J., et al., Fatty degeneration in renal tubule epithelium in accidental hypothermia victims. Forensic Sci Int, 2004. 141(2-3): p. 131-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2003.12.017
Kitamura, O., et al., Effect of hypothermia on postmortem alterations in MAP2 immunostaining in the human hippocampus. Legal Medicine, 2005. 7(1): p. 24-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2004.08.003
Ishikawa, T., et al., Fatal hypothermia related vacuolation of hormone-producing cells in the anterior pituitary. Leg Med (Tokyo), 2004. 6(3): p. 157-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2004.05.004
Miyazato, T., et al., Molecular pathology of pulmonary surfactants and cytokines in drowning compared with other asphyxiation and fatal hypothermia. Int J Legal Med, 2012. 126(4): p. 581-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-012-0698-2
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The Journal and content of this website is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) License. The Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) allows users to copy, distribute and transmit an article, adapt the article and make commercial use of the article. The CC BY license permits commercial and non-commercial re-use of an open access article, as long as the author is properly attributed.
