Identifying cause of death by autopsy

[compressor stall]

A gruesome topic but here goes:

How long after death is it possible to determine from the blood (due to enzymes?) if the person died from say a heart attack, or other coronary disease?

Cheers.

[woftam]

Why do you ask "Two Dogs" ?. . <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[ShyTorque]

If I were you I'd dispose of the body as quickly as possible. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[HelenD]

There is more to a post mortum than looking at the blood for enzyme levels. Much of the information gained that determines the cause of death is from looking at the structure of the organs both macroscopicaly and microscopicaly. It has to be rememberd that the decomposition process both makes and breaks down various chemicals. You would have to consult a Biochemist for exact details though.

[PFLsAgain]

A biochemist speaks....

Cardiac enzymes rise in the blood from 4 to 12 hours post-infarct, depending on which ones you measure. If the person concerned died within a few hours of the heart attack, the levels of enzymes would not be raised noticeably, so its a meaningless test. Much better to rely on the gross findings on autopsy. All that elevated cardiac enzyme levels will tell you is that there was an injury to the heart muscle. They don't diagnose what type of injury.

As for how long you can tell. Well it all depends - on when the sample was obtained, how it was stored, and what condition the body was in when the sample was taken. Assuming a correctly stored sample, taken from the body shortly after death, you can determine cardiac enzyme levels months later. The key factor is correct storage of the blood sample (ie the preservative in the tube, and storage at low temperature, and critically, the blood cells must be separated from the serum/plasma).

So come on, enlighten us all. Where did you hide the body?? <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[fantom]

maybe he hasn't throttled her yet....... <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[compressor stall]

PFLsAgain - can you please email me, yours is not listed - I have a few more details (and a couple of questions) which I won't air publicly. I am trying to tie up some lose ends in an aviation report.

Thanks all for your replies - sorry I have been away for a week!

CS

[ 18 February 2002: Message edited by: compressor stall ]</p>

[KillKenny]

Death by autopsy? Sounds like a painful way to go!

(sorry)

[Capt. Horrendous]

All this reminds me of an e-mail funny received recently. The following are allegedly genuine court recordings:

Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed. .on dead people?. .A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?. .A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.. .Q: And Mr.. Dennington was dead at the time?. .A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering. .why I was doing an autopsy.

. .Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy,. .did you check for a pulse?. .A: No.. .Q: Did you check for blood pressure?. .A: No.. .Q: Did you check for breathing?. .A: No.. .Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was. .alive when you began the autopsy?. .A: No.. .Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?. .A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.. .Q: But could the patient have still been alive,. .nevertheless?. .A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been. .alive and practicing law somewhere.

[ 26 February 2002: Message edited by: Capt. Horrendous ]</p>