Post-mortem Artefacts

1. *
Dr. Pratapsingh Rathod
Assistant Professor
Department of FMT

2. Artefacts is any change caused or feature
introduced in a body after death (accidental or
Physiologically unrelated finding to the natural
state of the body), that is likely to lead to
misinterpretation of medico legally significant
ante mortem findings.
A) Artefacts introduced between death and autopsy
B) Artefacts introduced during autopsy

3. A) Artefacts introduced between death and autopsy
I. Agonal Artefacts
- Regurgitation and aspiration of gastric contents
- Vomiting in asphyxia
- Oesophagogastomalacia (auto digestion of stomach)
II. Resuscitation Artefacts
- Injection marks
- Defibrillator may produce contusions
- External massage
- Thoracotomy can produce air embolism
- Positive pressure respirators can produce emphysema, blebs
- Contusions of soft tissue of neck may be mistaken for Strangulation
- Attempt to insert laryngoscope.
- Gastric dilatation due to oesophageal intubation
- Perforation due to endotracheal intubation
- Pneumothorax due to venous catheter
- Hemothorax, pneumothorax in artery wedge catheter
- Neck collar may produce linear abrasions
- Chest tube in stab or gun shot wounds
- Strings and threads tied leave abrasions

4. III) Artefacts due to handling of the body
- Fractures of ribs or other Bones may occur
- Fall on head may produce contusions
- Dragging of body may produce fresh abrasions
IV) Artefacts related to Rigor mortis
- Breaking of rigor due to poor handling
- Onset and duration may be altered by atmospheric condition's
- Rigor affecting heart may stimulate hypertrophy
- Rigor of stomach and pylorus
V) Artefacts realted to Postmortem Lividity
- Color changes in certain Poisoning
- Patches of hemorrhages
VI) Artefacts due to burn
- Heat ruptures may resemble laceration
- Heat hematoma may resemble extradural hemorrhage
- Unburnt groove around neck

5. VII) Artefacts in firearm wounds
- Drainage wound may resemble firearm wound
- Loss of skin in decomposition leads to unable to differentiate entry and
exit wound
- Suturing of wound
VIII) Artefacts due to animal and insect bites(Anthrapophagy)
- Dog bite may resemble Stab wound
- Ant bite may resemble Abrasions
- Alterations of wound size
IX) Artefacts in brain
- Oedema can lead to flattening of convolutions
- Rough removal may damage Brain
X) Artefacts in Liver
- During putrefation undersurface of Liver shows greenish coloration
- Satining of Liver by Bile

8. XI) Postmortem Hemorrhage
- Hemorrhage due to postmortem injury
- Collection of blood in cavities
XII) Artefacts related to Hair
- Apparent growth in beard may seen due to shrinkage of skin
XIII) Artefacts due to Decomposition
- Pressure of decomposed gases produce pseudo-bruising
- Hemolysis of red cells may resemble hypostasis
- Darker blood in decomposed body may stimulate congestion of organs
- Accumulation of gases alters body built
- Air in heart may resemble embolism
- Fissures in skin may stimulate lacerations
- Flaccidity of vaginal orifice may stimulate sexual assault
XIV) Artefacts due to chemicals
- Gasoline

10. XV) Artefacts due to refrigeration
- Solidity of subcutaneous fat, changes in hypostasis
XVI)Embalming Artefacts
- Trocar may stimulate Stab wound
- Alteration in size of wound
- Disturb track of wound
XVII)Interment and Exhumation artefacts
- Grave diggers may produce abrasions and lacerations
XVIII)Toxicological Artefacts
- Faulty technique of collection leads to false results
- Decomposition alters results
- In buried body arsenic may be found

11. B) Artefacats introduced during autopsy
I. Air in blood vessels
II. Skull fractures
III. Visceral damage
- Rough handling of organs may produce injuries
IV. Extravasation of blood
- Large blood may get damaged leading to false hemorrhage
- Air Embolism
- en block removal may produce various injuries
V. Fracture of Hyoid bone
- during handling neck
- Osseous union may resemble fracture
VI. Injury to Blood Vessels
VII. Toxicologiacal artefacts
- Contamination of viscera by stomach contents
- Faulty storage