Prevalence of potential risk factors in victims of electrocution.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors of fatal arrhythmia following electrical shock, by comparing the prevalence of transthoracic current, tetany, decreased skin resistance because of wet extremities, skin burns and heart disease in victims of electrocution with instant as opposed to delayed death. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study, based on the charts from the coroner's office. RESULTS: A total of 124 deaths from electrocution occurred between 1987 and 1992. One victim presumably died from delayed arrhythmia and was excluded from the study. Twenty victims had decreased skin resistance because of wet extremities and five had tetany. Autopsy revealed coronary heart disease in 21 cases, and burns in 109; 10 did not have any skin lesion. There was no difference in risk factors between those who died instantly presumably from arrhythmia (n=114) and those who died later from other causes (n=9). CONCLUSION: No differences in risk factors were found between victims who died immediately from arrhythmia following electrical shock and those died later from other causes.     

Electrocution--autopsy study with emphasis on "electrical petechiae"

Fatalities caused by electrocution (n = 37) were re-examined on the basis of the autopsy records, the police reports and the technical expertise. Accidents including two lightning deaths caused 2/3rd and suicides 1/4th of the fatalities and there were two homicides. Carelessness or ignorance were a major reason for accidental deaths while technical defects could be verified in five cases only. Low-voltage ac and male victims predominated. Electrical burns or current marks were detected in 81% including all high voltage electrocutions. The seven victims lacking burns were electrocuted in a wet environment including six cases of suicide in the bathtub with a hair drier. Petechial haemorrhages were present in 74% of the cases and the favourite sites were the skin of the eyelids, conjunctivae, visceral pleura, and the epicard. The presence of petechiae did not depend on the voltage or the current pathway relative to the heart. It is, therefore, suggested that the petechiae are not caused by asphyxia but by a combination of venous congestion due to cardiac arrest and a sudden rise in blood pressure induced by muscle contractions. Consequently, "electrical petechiae" represent a non-specific but typical finding in electrocution irrespective of the mechanism leading to death. Unlike electrical burns, petechiae also indicate the vital origin of the events. The relevance of this typical morphological sign in the examination of possible electrocution fatalities is therefore emphasised.     

Experimental studies of the development of linear electric current marks

By means of reconstructing electric current pathways electrophysical conditions were explored causing electrocution death in the bathtub, according to many authors quite often indicated by linear electric lesions. In our experimental settings we observed appearance of circumscribed linear marks of pallor similar to electric lesions in the region of postmortem lividity of corpses at the same level as bathtub water. None of typical histological indicators could be seen in skin samples. So no evidence was given for electric burns even under conditions of high density and extended duration of current. Similar linear marks and equivalent histological results were found when corpses were put into the bathtub filled with cold water without any experimental electric contact. CONCLUSIONS: Linear marks of pallor may occur at water level even without any electric contact to corpse or water neither bathtub. IMPLICATIONS: According to specific conditions mentioned above linear so called electric lesions at water level do not indicate electric current yet lethal electric damage.     

电流斑的光镜和扫描电镜观察以及能谱测定

为了找出电流斑在扫描电镜下的特征性改变,作者用扫描电镜和能谱测定,配合光镜观察,对电击死者的22个皮肤电流斑和尸体上造成的18个皮肤电流斑和金属灼伤,进行了对比观察。结果表明,光镜下电流斑的形态改变与过去学者所述基本一致。非典型的电流斑难与热灼伤相鉴别。扫描电镜下电流斑的形态特征为:(1)损伤底部和壁上可见散在的小孔穴,直径为30～100μm,深浅不一,边缘不规则;(2)损伤组织表面大量细胞碎屑和颗粒;(3)组织和脱落细胞表面有裂纹;(4)损伤区内有散在的异物颗粒沉积,其形态为球形、方形或不规则形,电子密度较大。作者认为这些改变是电流作用造成,热灼伤不具备这些改变,故在扫描电镜下极易区别电流斑和热灼伤。所有电流斑均可测出与导体化学组成相同的金属元素。作者提出,扫描电镜下的上述形态改变和能谱测定结果可以作为诊断电流斑的依据。     

无电流斑电击死兔骨骼肌il-6mRNA表达研究

目的探讨生前电击与死后电击的鉴别方法及电流通路的推断方法。方法15只新西兰兔，随机分为3组，每组5只，即电击死组、死后电击组、对照组。电击死组，用220V交流电的两极分别连接实验动物的左后肢与右前肢，通电致死。死后电击组，从耳缘静脉注射50ml空气致死，于死后即刻用220V交流电的两极分别连接实验动物的左后肢与右前肢通电3min。对照组直接从耳缘静脉注射50ml空气致死，不进行电击。用荧光RT—PCR技术检测骨骼肌白介素6信使核糖核酸（il-6mRNA）表达水平，所得结果进行统计学分析。结果电击死兔骨骼肌il-6mRNA水平远高于死后即刻电击者（P〈0．05）；电击死兔对称肢体中通电肢体骨骼肌il-6mRNA水平远高于非通电肢体（P〈0．05）。结论骨骼肌il-6mRNA表达变化可用于生前电击与死后电击的鉴别；机体对称部位骨骼肌il-6mRNA表达差异有助于推断电流通路。     

电流斑的环境扫描电镜X射线能谱分析

目的利用环境扫描电镜-X射线能谱仪(environmental scanning electron microscope and energydispersive X-ray microanalyser,ESEM-EDX)研究电流斑微观形态特征及元素构成,以期为电流斑及电击死的鉴定提供更准确、客观的依据。方法用ESEM-EDX检测5例电流斑的扫描电镜形态、金属颗粒的形态及其元素组成。结果电流斑及周围皮肤可见电穿孔、金属熔珠,熔珠主要由铁、铜、铝等常见金属元素和金、钛、钡等人体少见的金属元素构成。结论 ESEM-EDX检测可为电击死的鉴定提供客观的依据。     

An initially unexplained death during prison sentence. Diagnostic verification by atomic absorption spectrometry

The authors report on the death of a 25-year-old man due to electric current in prison, which was not recognized at first. The fatal accident was caused by a self-made electric kettle. The only electrothermal skin lesions were some pinhead-sized electric marks on the left thumb. Careful external inspection of the body in combination with an analysis of the conductor material (aluminium) by means of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) revealed the cause of death and the source of accidental electrocution.     

Internal current mark in a case of suicide by electrocution.

Fatalities caused by electrocution often lack specific morphologic evidence. Investigation of the death scene along with technical inspection of the electrical apparatus may help in clarifying the cause and manner of death. Cutaneous current marks may be the only sign of low voltage associated fatalities. The authors report a case of an electrician who committed suicide by electrocution using a time switch after oral ingestion of diazepam. Electrodes (coins) were fixed with adhesive tape at the height of the heart to the front and back of the left side of the chest. Autopsy revealed a blackish linear mark on the pleura parietalis of the inner side of the thoracic cavity, connecting the cutaneous current marks. Current-related and heat-related changes, such as hypercontraction bands of the intercostal muscles and coagulative changes of the perineurium of peripheral nerves, were found at histologic examination. Taking into consideration that the body had been under the influence of low-voltage current for 7 days, the morphologic alteration on the pleura parietalis was in accordance with an internal current mark, indicating the main route of current flow through the body. To the authors' knowledge, such a current-related phenomenon has not been reported to occur on an inner body surface before.     

An unusual case of high-voltage electrocution of a truck driver due to inadvertent contact of the truck with an overhead wire

Electrocution deaths are mostly accidental. However, reconstruction of events in unusual electrocution death is challenging. This article reports an accidental death due to electrocution in a highly unusual circumstance, in which a truck driver reversing his vehicle was electrocuted when his truck inadvertently touched an overhead high-voltage wire. The electric injury marks were present over the sole of the right foot. The scene investigation revealed that the high-voltage wire was loose and was below the level of the prescribed height. The truck was passing over an elevated area made up of dirt and stone. The interior of the cabin of the truck revealed a few non-insulated metallic areas over the floor of the truck, between the accelerator and the brake, which were attributed as the sources of entry of electricity into the body. The electric injury marks were different than those usually seen in high-voltage electrocution as there was an intermediate object (truck) involved, and the contact period between the truck and the electric wire was minimal. This fatality was attributed to the non-proper insulation of the interior of the truck, the negligent driving of the truck driver over the elevated surface, and the loose high-voltage wire without proper maintenance.     

Application of atomic absorption spectroscopy for detection of multimetal traces in low-voltage electrical marks

Application of atomic absorption spectroscopy to detect multimetal traces in injured skin is a promising tool for investigation of fatalities caused by electrocution. The present paper is aimed at testing the reliability of this method for metal traces detection in electric current marks and is focused on study of peculiarities of metal penetration into the skin exposed to a current impact. Bare aluminum wire, tin-lead coated copper multistrand wire, and zinc-plated steel rope were used to make electrical marks on pig skin. It is demonstrated that amount of copper, zinc, lead, and iron may serve as statistically reliable indicators for the type of wire, which caused the electrical mark, in spite of the background content of these metals in the skin without injury. Different penetration rates for different metals contained in the wire inflicting an electrical mark were observed.     

Fatal paradoxical air embolism diagnosed by postmortem imaging and autopsy

The recognition and visualization of an arterial gas embolism are difficult. We report a case of sudden death caused by paradoxical air embolism of coronary and cerebral arteries, diagnosed by the pre autopsy computed tomography (CT) scanning. A 54-year-old woman suddenly died after the self-removal of the jugular vein catheter. Postmortem imaging examination using CT scanning showed multiple gas embolisms in the cerebral arteries, pulmonary artery, right atrium and ventricle, left ventricle, aorta, and coronary arteries. These findings suggested that the occurrence of acute ischemia of the brain and heart caused by massive air inflow to the artery. Conventional autopsy revealed a patent foramen ovale of the heart. These results indicated that the patient died of paradoxical air embolization of the coronary and cerebral arteries through a patent foramen ovale because of right-to-left shunting. The use of postmortem imaging as an aid for conventional autopsy has proved to be of advantage in the case of gas embolism.     

Problems in the evaluation of electrocution fatalities in the bathtub

Forty-eight cases of electrocution in the bathtub are reported which were recorded in Düsseldorf and G?ttingen from 1972 to 1986; 19 cases were established to be suicides, with a sex ratio of 1:3 in favor of females. Marks of electricity were found in 8 cases. Five other cases were distinguished by linear marks indicating the water level, and in 10 cases a peculiar restriction of the postmortem hypostasis on the submersed areas could be seen. We presume from our own material that the latter findings can be easily ignored. As linear, circumscribed lividity could not be detected in bath deaths without electricity, it may be a specific finding. We recommend that more attention be paid to this phenomen. In all of our cases, 220 V current was involved, i.e., the usual household supply. The calculated amperage was about 100 to 250 mA, which means that ventricular fibrillation occurred within a few seconds. In 14 cases foam was established at the mouth and the nostrils, or in the air passages. We presume that, in these cases, death by electrocution was finally superimposed by drowning without developing the typical emphysema aquosum.     

Spontaneous fatal perforation of aorta and vena cava by Mobin-Uddin umbrella

A 60-year-old Caucasian woman died suddenly and unexpectedly after 4 days of dyspnea, lower back pain, and numbness of the legs. Autopsy revealed that death was due to perforation of both the aorta and the vena cava by the spikes of a Mobin-Uddin umbrella (an inferior vena cava filter designed to prevent recurrent pulmonary embolism) which was implanted 8 years prior to the patient's death. To prevent this type of lethal complication, it is suggested that the sharp spikes of the Mobin-Uddin umbrella be modified into curved, hook-like ends.     

电击死心脏病理学研究

本文对三例因电击死亡尸体的心脏（包括传导系统）的病理改变进行了研究。研究中使用了三例非电击死尸体的心脏进行对照，并采用了多种染色方法以增加诊断的可靠性和消除假阳性。结果显示，两例２２０伏电压电击死的心脏除发现血管壁及其中的血细胞有改变外，心肌及传导系统未见文献所述的坏死性改变。而这种坏死改变在另一例因７５伏交流电电击死的心脏中却表现得相当明显。笔者分析了其中的原因，同时认为在进行类似的研究时，采用对照组和多种染色力“法是十分必要的。     

电击伤最佳病理取材部位的初步研究

目的探讨日常低电压电击后机体电流通路上极向化等病变规律和最佳病理取材部位。方法SD大鼠随机分为电击组和对照组,建立左前爪-右后爪路径220V电击大鼠模型,取电极接触处皮肤、四肢血管、神经和周边组织及腹腔大血管,常规HE染色病理组织学图像分析。结果电极接触处皮肤基底细胞(skinbasalcell,SBC)核明显极向化改变,长/短径比值与对照组比较差异高度显著,P<0.001;电流通路上腕和踝部血管及腹主动脉内皮、平滑肌细胞核的极向化与对照组比较,差异显著,P<0.05,其中腕和踝部病理改变最明显;周围骨骼肌细胞核的长/短径比值无明显规律性。结论在电击死中最常见的“手-足通路”,腕、踝部血管可能为病理取材的最佳部位。同时,由于腕和踝部距离手脚掌较远,直接接触热源和化学试剂等其他可能引起“极向化”改变的因素机会少,因此,腕和踝部血管及其周边组织的极向化改变更具有电损伤的特异性。     

外伤性主动脉破裂死亡30例法医病理学研究

目的　探讨外伤性主动脉破裂法医病理学特点。　方法　对华西医科大学法医学院 1983 -2 0 0 3年 3月所做 3 0例外伤性主动脉破裂病理资料进行回顾性研究。　结果　外伤性主动脉破裂以男性青壮年为主 ( 66% ) ,1983 -1993年以高坠为主 ,1994-2 0 0 3年以车祸为主 ,损伤发生部位以主动脉弓部及起始部为常见 ,且绝大多伤者在 3 0min内死亡。　结论　外伤性主动脉破裂发生 ,应以预防为主。     

Postmortem angiography of catheter-induced pulmonary artery perforation.

A case of pulmonary artery perforation by the placement of a balloon-tipped, flow-directed (Swan-Ganz) catheter, as demonstrated postmortem by angiography and confirmed by conventional autopsy method, is reported. Angiography is an effective adjunctive modality in the postmortem diagnosis and localization of pulmonary artery perforation. In cases of suspected catheter-induced pulmonary artery perforation and death, postmortem angiography may prove useful to the forensic pathologist.     

Suicidal hanging on high-voltage line pylon

Hanging is one of the most frequent methods for suicides among young males. This report presents two cases of suicide by hanging on pylons carrying high-voltage power lines. The male victims suffered electrocution while committing suicide. Electrocution was the cause of death in both cases, however in one case blunt force injuries from hanging contributed to death. In these two cases hanging was the intentional method of suicide and it was followed by electrocution. The cases demonstrate that scene investigation, a detailed autopsy with histology, and amamnestic data are essential in the evaluation of suicides by hanging and that the determination of the cause of death remains a challenge in investigating such cases.     

大鼠电击死心脑肺及皮肤超微结构的改变

目的 观察电击致死大鼠的心、脑、肺、皮肤超微结构形态学改变，寻找电击死的法医学鉴定依据。方法 大鼠12只，其中电击致死6只，另6只对照；取心、脑、肺、皮肤，用戊二醛固定、锇酸染色后透射电镜观察。结果 所取组织细胞均见明显细胞凋亡样改变，其中红细胞肿胀变形，充填整个毛细血管管腔。结论 心、脑、肺、皮肤组织细胞与血管内皮细胞的超微结构形态改变对鉴定电流死有参考价值。     

电击伤与电击死的法医学研究进展

电击伤和电击死是法医实践工作中常遇到的案例,尽管有许多学者从电击伤(死)后各个组织器官的形态学以及分子水平的变化进行了大量的研究,但实际检案中,法医工作者对其诊断(主要是对无电流斑的死因推断)仍没有统一的标准和直接客观的特异性指标,且对电击工具的推断、生前电击和死后电击的鉴别以及电击死后死亡时间的判断都有一定的困难,故其一直是法医学研究的热点。本文针对以上问题对电击伤(死)的法医学研究进展做一综述,为对其进一步研究提供一些思路。