15283-B-Blokker

144 Chapter 8 significantly less frequently in patients that had underwent resuscitation (p=0.002). Intravascular air (both arterial and venous) was visible in 58% of patients and more frequently present in PRS patients than in non-PRS patients (72% vs. 47%, p=0.013). Postmortem time interval The mean PTI was 23.0 (±15.6) hours. PTI showed a significant correlation with internal livores of the lungs (p=0.038), distended intestines (p=0.001) and loss of grey-white matter differentiation in the brain (p<0.001) (Table 11). PTI showed a significant correlation with postmortem changes related to decomposition (p=0.026). DISCUSSION This is the first study evaluating the frequency of PMCT and PMMR features of postmortem change in a large cohort of adult patients. Similar imaging studies on postmortem change in fetuses and neonates have been published. 211,242 . We observed a wide variety of PMCT and PMMR features of postmortem change. Particularly livor mortis and decomposition have great impact on the imaging features. Algor mortis and rigor mortis lead to only minor changes. Our results indicate that PMCT and PMMR appear to be complementary for correct interpretation of postmortem changes. Some changes are more clearly seen on PMMR such as livores of organ parenchyma or blood clotting, while others such as the presence and distribution of putrefaction air is better noted on PMCT. Clinical conditions may influence imaging features of postmortem change. Importantly, postmortem changes may mimic or even mask real pathological changes related to the cause of death: e.g. gravity causes sedimentation of blood contents within the first hours after death. On PMCT the upper (plasma) and lower layer (blood cells) shows decreased and increased attenuation respectively. As a result the upper part of the aortic wall shows relatively high attenuation compared to the plasma content and may mimic aortic wall hematoma (Fig 2G). Bacterial infections can speed decomposition processes and increase gas and fluid formation in the body. Hypovolemia causes the heart cavities and vessel lumen to decrease in size. Medical treatments can also change imaging features; e.g. intravascular lines and surgical wounds can be accompanied by air in the surrounding soft tissues and bloodstream.

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