AUTOPSY

Definition

An autopsy (post-mortem) is the surgical dissection of a body after death to determine the exact cause and circumstances of death or discover the pathway of a disease.

Objectives

1. To find out the cause of death.

2. To ascertain whether death is Natural or Unnatural.

3. Whether the death is Homicidal, Suicidal or accidental causes such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, the ingestion of drugs or deaths with in 24 hours of hospital admission.

Objectives

4. To ascertain time passed since death

5. To establish the identity of the body.

6. Whether still-birth or live birth of newly born infant.

Stages of Autopsy Examination

1.Physical examination of clothes and collection of evidence in them.

2. Physical examination of body surfaces and collection of any evidence.

3. Opening of the body cavities.

Stages of Autopsy Examination

4. Scrutiny of internal contents of cavities and vital systems.

5. Collection of specimens.

6. Closure of body/reconstruction.

7. Disposal of dead body- Relatives or Police

Nurses Responsibilities1.Obtain the consent for autopsy.

2.Inform the family members that an autopsy doesn’t deform the body and that all the organs are replaced in the body. 3.Explain the patient relatives that an autopsy may contribute to advances in medical science.

Nurses Responsibilities

4.Answer the family member’s doubts and support the family as necessary.

5.Respect and honour family wishes and final decisions regarding tissue or organ donation.

Embalming

Definition

Embalming is the art and science of preserving human body by treating them with chemicals to prevent decomposition.

Embalming is meant to temporarily preserve the body of a deceased person.

Purpose To keep the body suitable for public display at a funeral. For medical and scientific purposes such as their use as anatomical specimens

Goals SanitizationPresentationPreservation

Chemicals used for Embalming

Formaldehyde

Glutaraldehyde

Ethanol

Steps

Arterial embalmingCavity embalmingHypodermic embalmingSurface embalming