Autopsy Techniques

AUTOPSY

DEFINITION

Examination for whole body of corpse, including external

examination and internal examination and additional

examinations

CLASSIFICATION

clinical autopsyautopsy anatomy and forensic autopsy / medicolegal autopsy

PURPOSE

PURPOSE OF AUTOPSYThe purpose of autopsy is based on classification.

clinical autopsy forensic autopsy

Determine the exact cause of death Determine the identity of the body

Customizing clinical diagnoses made during treatment with postmortem diagnosis

Definitely determine cause and manner of death as well as the estimated time of death

Determine the effectiveness of treatment Collect medical evidence

Knowing the relationship with the clinical diagnosis of the disease process and clinical symptoms

Make a written report objective and based on facts in the form of visum et repertum

Education (anatomical autopsy)

Forensic Autopsy

There are a few things to note :The place is a morgue to doing autopsiesAn autopsy was performed only when there is

demand from the authorities autopsyAn autopsy should be done when there is a

request autopsyMatters relating to the cause of death should

be collected before starting the autopsyWhen the autopsy is done, should not be

watched by families or layperson

Preparation before autopsyDocumentsEquipment should be prepared :

Standard Precautions

• In Indonesia a person to perform forensic autopsies are doctors or physicians, physician assistants, and timers.

• Immunization• Staff should not suffer immunocompromise,

open wounds, and acute dermatitis

Examination of corpseexternal examination internal examination support examination

inspection label that is usually attached to the

body of the thumbs right foot

incision cavity of the head, neck, chest cavity,

abdominal cavity, pelvic cavity

histopathological examination

Label the hospital to identify the body should

remain on the bodies

take out internal organs toxicology examination

Cover of corpse, Clothes and jewelry of corpse

microscopic

livor mortis, post mortum rigidity, body temperature,

decaying corpse

DNA examination

inspection from head to toe

serology examination

Autopsy Procedure

Autopsy procedure

External post mortem

examination

Internal examination:

Inspection of internal organs appearance and

position

Anatomical dissection Sampling

Autopsy Techniques

Autopsy Techniques

R. Virchow One by one

A. Ghon removed as separate blocks

M. LetulleRemoved as one single

block then dissected into organ blocks

C. Rokitansky All are dissected in situ

Examination of Organs

• Examination of the structure of the tongue and neck• Examination of the heart• Examination of the lungs• Intestinal examination• Examination of the liver and gall bladder• Examination of the spleen and pancreas• Examination of the stomach• Examination of the kidney, adrenal gland, ureter and

bladder

Examination of Genitalia Interna

• Depending on sex

Autopsy Technique on

Specific Case

Infanticide

Air Embolis

m

Pneumothorax

Neck Injury

Air EmbolismThe initial superior portion of the body incision should be

limited to just below the sternal notch

One should reflect the skin and muscles but cut

only the rib cartilages from the second rib

inferiorly

The sternum and anterior ribs are

removed, exposing the pericardium

One then ligates the aorta securely and

makes a small incision in the anterior pericardial

sac

The cut edges of the pericardium are grasped

with clamps and inspected the pericardial

content

Filled the pericardial cavity with water,

submerging the heart entirely

One incises in turn the right atrium, right

ventricle, pilmonary artery

Look carefully for air bubbles

Pneumothorax

Holding the dissected skin and

subcutaneous tissues of the chest

to form a pocket adjacent to the

ribcage

Filled the Pocket with water

Used a scapel to incise the thoracic

cavity

The presence of air bubbles indicates a

pneumothorax

Neck Injury

Make an “I” incision from incisura

jugularis downward up to sompisis

pubis

Wedge the neck so the neck in the higher position

Open the chest cavity by cutting the chest cavity and ribs

Remove the heart

Open the skull cavity and remove

the brain

Blood will flow and the neck area will

be clean

Open the neck layer, find the blood

infiltration

Infanticide

• Autopsy on the body of the baby is more difficult than in adult bodies

• The important things that should be examinated on Infanticide are : Viability Still birth Cause of death Long live outside the womb

After Examination

Rekonstruction of the

Body

Sending Sample

Determination the

cause of death

Examination result repotr

Simple Forensic Laboratory Examination

Blood Examination

Presumptive test/ Screening

Confirmation test

Variety of Simple Blood Screening

1. Microscopic Examination.

- Examination of the blood filter.

- Determination of blood examination.

2. Chemical Examination.

3. Spectroscopic Examination.

4. Serology.

Examination of Seminal Fluid Seminal fluid (semen) is one of the body fluids most often

found in criminal investigations, especially in cases involving sexual offenses.

Examination of Seminal

Fluid

Presumptive test Confirmation

test

Hair Examination

• Hair is the most stable tissue, because hair can ressist from decayed.

• Kind of examination: macroscopic and microscopic

ResultFrom hair examination we

can determine

Cause of death

Kind of crime

Victim’s identity Weapon which is used

Doers identity

Saliva Examination

• Saliva examination is useful when there is a bitten wound on the victim.

• The method which is always used is: – Absorbtion - Inhibition

Urine Examination

• This examination usually use for identification of drug abuse.

• Golden standard of the examination is:– Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry