Forensic Interpretation of Postmortal Ethanol Neogenesis in Blood Samples of Cadaverously Decomposed Bodies

Česká verzia

Authors: Ľ. Straka ¹; F. Novomeský ²; J. Krajčovič ²; F. Štuller ²; A. Brzobohatá ³; T. Vojtíšek ³
Authors place of work: Súdno-lekárske pracovisko ÚDZS, Martin ¹; Ústav súdneho lekárstva a medicínskych expertíz JLF UK a MFN, Martin ²; Ústav soudního lékařství LF MU, Brno ³
Published in the journal: Soud Lék., 55, 2010, No. 2, p. 18-21

Summary

There is no real possibility for detail knowledge of postmortal changes of blood alcohol concentration in the near future, so that it is necessary to comment alcoholaemia with special aspect on empirical practice. Potential use of alternative (more resistant to putrefaction) body fluid or tissue can help to distinguish ratio of endogenous and exogenous ethanol. It seems that using of vitreous (eventually urine) is the best way to avoid desinterpretation mistakes of alcoholemia in cadavers. In cases where these fluids are missing we are not able to comment alcoholaemia of saprogenic blood.

Key words:
ethanol – endogenous ethanol – ethanol production post-mortem – ethanol fermentation

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