Embalming Theory : Week 12

Decomposition
Dehydration
Edema

​

​Week 12: Special Cases

• Protein and moisture levels within the body

• Cause and manner of death, including any underlying conditions

• Diseases or traumatic injuries affecting the body’s condition

• Medical treatments and medications administered prior to death

• Postmortem environmental factors, such as refrigeration or lack thereof

• Time interval between death, preparation, and final disposition

Conditions That Contribute to Early Onset of Decomposition

• Nonuniform fluid distribution throughout the body

• Tissues prone to swelling during embalming

• Greater preservative demand required

• Cooler temperatures and pH levels below 7.4 slow tissue fixation,
  → requiring a higher concentration of arterial solution

Time Delays Between Death and Preparation

• Careful chemical selection

• Use of mechanical, operative, and manual techniques

• Controlled injection and drainage procedures

• Sectional vascular injection for targeted distribution

• Sectional hypodermic injection to treat resistant areas

Treatment of Bodies Prone to Early Onset of Decomposition

Pre-Embalming Observations and Treatments

• Assess for the presence of gases

  • Note abdominal or facial distension caused by decomposition gases.

  • Release trapped gases carefully to reduce swelling and pressure.

Treatment of Bodies with Evident Decomposition

• Inspect for insect activity

  • Look for maggots or eggs in natural body openings, wounds, or moist areas.

  • Remove all visible insect activity prior to embalming to prevent interference with preservation.

• Examine body orifices

  • Clean and disinfect all orifices thoroughly.

  • Use appropriate sealing powders, packs, or sutures after treatment to control purge and odor.

Treatment of Bodies with Evident Decomposition

• Restricted Cervical Injection – Targets the head and upper body while minimizing fluid loss.

• Multi-Point Arterial Injection – Uses multiple injection sites to ensure thorough distribution of embalming solution throughout the body.

Embalming Procedures

• Choosing Arterial and Special Chemicals with a High Index

  • Select strong preservative solutions for bodies showing advanced decomposition or delayed preservation.

• Waterless Embalming

  • Use concentrated arterial fluids without dilution to enhance preservation and reduce tissue swelling.

Chemical Selection

• Specialized Instruments

  • Large and small diameter arterial cannulas for precise injection

  • Tools to control flow rate and pulsation

• Manual Techniques

  • Massage, flexion, and elevation to promote fluid distribution

• Operative Procedures

  • Channeling, wicking, incising, and excising tissue as needed

  • Application of surface compresses and neck collars for preservation and appearance

Mechanical, Operative, and Manual Aids

• Primary Flaccidity

  • Rigor is beginning to develop and is barely noticeable

  • Greatest preservative absorption occurs during this stage

• Active Rigor

  • Body is stiff, muscles contracted

  • Little preservative absorption takes place

• Secondary Flaccidity

  • Rigor has passed, muscles relax

  • Greatest preservative demand occurs during this stage

Important: Always break rigor before arterial injection to ensure proper preservative distribution.

Stages of Rigor Mortis

Eight Gases Contributing to Decomposition Odor

• Indole – odor of mothballs

• Skatole – odor of feces

• Putrescine – odor of rotting fish

• Cadaverine – odor of rotting fish

• Dimethyl disulfide – odor of foul garlic

• Dimethyl trisulfide – odor of foul garlic

• Hydrogen sulfide – odor of rotting eggs

• Methanethiol – odor of rotten cabbage

• Refrigeration

• Embalming

• Emaciation

• See page 304 for a full list

Predisposing Conditions to Dehyration

​Good Moisture Content in lips!

Dehydration ​Challenges:

• Strength, Type, and Quantity of Chemicals

  • Moderate, hypotonic solutions recommended

  • Use of co-injection fluids and humectants

• Mechanical, Operative, and Manual Aids

  • Massage, flexion, elevation, and specialized instruments

• Injection and Drainage Techniques

  • Maintain a slow rate of flow

  • Use of drain tubes

  • Consider alternative or intermittent drainage as needed

Treatment of Dehydration

• Alcoholism

• Burns

• Cirrhosis of the liver

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Congestive heart failure

• Allergic or inflammatory reactions

• Extended drug therapy

Conditions Associated with Edema

• Anasarca – generalized edema in the subcutaneous tissue

• Intracellular (solid) edema – occurs when water and sodium accumulate inside cells, causing them to swell

• Intercellular (pitting) edema – abnormal accumulation of fluid between cells in the body’s tissues

Edema According to Body Location

• Peritoneum – Ascites: Fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity

• Hydrothorax: Collection of serous fluid in the pleural cavities

• Hydropericardium: Fluid buildup in the sac surrounding the heart

• Hydrocephalus: Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain; most common in infants

• Hydrocele: Fluid collection in the scrotum

Edema According to Body Location

• Tissue Distention – swelling of tissues due to gas or fluid buildup

• Increased Secondary Dilution – greater preservative demand caused by tissue changes

• Desquamation (Skin-Slip) – separation of the epidermis from underlying layers

• Leakage – escape of fluids from natural orifices or incisions

Embalming complications with Edema

Body Cavities

• Extravascular Resistance – May limit the distribution and drainage of embalming fluids

• Unaspirated Edema – Can dilute cavity fluid and reduce preservation effectiveness

Embalming complications with Edema

Embalming Procedures by Fluid Type, Strength, and Quantity

• Injection of Astringent or Waterless Arterial Solutions – for advanced tissue preservation

• Physical Removal of Edema – followed by injection of a normal arterial solution

• Injection of Edema-Reducing Co-Injection Chemicals – to minimize tissue swelling

• Injection of Hypertonic Solutions – to draw out excess fluids and enhance preservation

Embalming Treatments : Edematous Tissues

Injection Procedures

• Restricted Cervical Injection – targets head and neck with minimal fluid loss

• Sectional Embalming – treating specific body regions individually

Embalming Treatments : Edematous Tissues

• Mechanical, Operative, and Manual Aids – techniques to enhance fluid distribution, including:

  • Elevation of extremities

  • Wicking – absorbent materials to draw out fluids

  • Channeling – creating pathways for fluid movement

  • Manual pressure – to aid fluid penetration

Embalming Treatments : Edematous Tissues

• Disease-Related

  • Skeletal deformities

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

• Trauma-Related

  • Compound fractures and other injuries

• Congenital

  • Deformities present from birth

Documentation: Always record deformities, but it is especially important when they may affect embalming or case handling.

Deformities and Malformations: Predisposing Conditions

Treatments

• Mechanical, Operative, and Manual Aids

  • Use carefully; obtain written authorization when appropriate

• Arterial Fluids

  • Adjust strength, type, and quantity based on body condition

• Sectional Arterial Injection

  • Apply as needed for thorough distribution

Deformities and Malformations: Predisposing Conditions

• Hypodermic or Surface Embalming

  • Use for areas requiring supplemental preservation

• Protective Measures

  • Plastic garments for containment

  • Absorbent or preservative powders to manage leakage

Deformities and Malformations: Predisposing Conditions