Examination A thorough physical examination should be carried out to ascertain whether or not death has taken place.[4] First inspection should reveal a deathly pallor (particularly of the face and lips), and relaxation of the facial muscles. This leads to drooping of the lower jaw and open staring eyes. Further examination should include: Palpation of all major pulses. Auscultation of the heart and lungs for at least one minute, and repeated at intervals over at least five minutes. Inspection of the eyes for fixed dilated pupils, absence of corneal reflexes, cloudiness of the cornea and loss of eye tension. Examination of the fundi for segmentation of retinal blood columns boxcars ( only present in 30%). Examination of the trunk may show evidence of post mortem staining as a result of hypostasis. Examination of muscle tone for rigor mortis ( begins approximately 3 hours after death). Decreased temperature - will depend on ambient temperature, but may not occur for up to 8 hours.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:09:47 +0000
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