6533b7d0fe1ef96bd125ba70
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Forensic tools for the diagnosis of electrocution death: Case study and literature review
Luigi CardiaAntonio MicaliAntonina ArgoCristina MondelloElvira Ventura SpagnoloStefania Zerbosubject
endothelial perforationMaleForensic pathologyPathologymedicine.medical_specialtyElectrocution death; biochemical analysis; endothelial perforation; energy dispersive X-ray analysis; metallisation; scanning electron microscopeCardiac troponinFatal outcomebiochemical analysiAutopsybiochemical analysis; Electrocution death; endothelial perforation; energy dispersive X-ray analysis; metallisation; scanning electron microscope; Autopsy; Cause of Death; Electric Injuries; Fatal Outcome; Forensic Pathology; Humans; Male; Microscopy Electron Scanning; Middle Aged; Medicine (all)Electron01 natural sciencesElectric current flowenergy dispersive X-ray analysis03 medical and health sciencesFatal Outcome0302 clinical medicineSettore MED/43 - Medicina Legalebiochemical analysismetallisationCause of DeathHumansMedicineScanning030216 legal & forensic medicineForensic PathologyMicroscopybusiness.industryMedicine (all)010401 analytical chemistryscanning electron microscopeGeneral MedicineMiddle Agedenergy dispersive X-ray analysiElectrocution deathpeople.cause_of_death0104 chemical sciencesElectric InjuriesElectrocutionMicroscopy Electron ScanningAutopsybusinesspeopleEndothelial surfacedescription
Diagnosis of death by electrocution may be difficult when electric marking is not visible or unclear. Accordingly, the body of a man who appeared to have died from accidental electrocution was carefully forensically analysed. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the current mark was carried out using a variable-pressure scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray microanalyser to highlight skin metallisation, indicating the presence of iron and zinc. The histological findings of electrocution myocardial damage were supported by the results of biochemical analysis which demonstrated the creatine kinase-MB and cardiac troponin I elevation. The effects of electric current flow were also highlighted by perforations of endothelial surface of a pulmonary artery using scanning electron microscope, and all the results were analysed by the main tools suggested in the literature.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-01 | Medico-Legal Journal |