Embalming Theory: Week 8

Drainage

• Postmortem Blood Distribution

  • 85% in capillaries

  • 10% in veins

  • 5% in arteries

  Purpose of Drainage

  • To remove blood, clots, interstitial fluid, lymphatic fluid, and arterial solution during vascular embalming (typically through a vein)

  • embalming while stopping venous drainage for short intervals.

Drainage

• Methods of Drainage

  • Restricted Drainage – Limited vein access for controlled removal.

  • Alternate Drainage – Inject 1–2 quarts of arterial solution, stop injection, then allow venous drainage.

  • Intermittent Drainage – Continue arterial injection throughout embalming while stopping venous drainage for short intervals.

Drainage Techniques

• Concurrent (Continuous) Drainage

  • Arterial injection and venous drainage occur at the same time throughout the embalming process.

  Direct Heart Drainage ("Heart Tap")

  • A closed drainage method

  • Fluid is removed directly from the right atrium using a trocar

• Embalming solution

• Blood and blood clots- can be relived with delayed or intermittent drainage

• Interstitial fluid-substance in the supporting connective tissues surrounding body cells.

• Lymphatic fluid-a clear, watery fluid that helps maintain the body's fluid balance and immune health

​Contents of drainage

• No Drainage

  • Drainage in the intestinal tract

  • Ruptured Spleen or other internal organs

  • Traumatic death involving major blood loss

  • Infections that cause extensive blood clotting
    

Drainage complications

• Purpose

  • To ensure that the contents of the hollow viscera and body cavities are treated

  • To inhibit the formation of any products of decomposition in the body cavities or hollow organs

  • To inhibit putrefactive changes in tissues within the body cavities

General Considerations

Theories – Immediate Embalming Benefits

• Prevents gas formation that can lead to purge

• Removes microbes that accelerate decomposition

• Drains blood from the heart and liver, and fluid from the lungs

• Clears semi-solid contents of hollow organs that may contribute to bacterial spread

• Opens channels in the neck, helping reduce facial swelling

Theories – Delayed Embalming

• Provides time for arterial fluid to fully penetrate tissue spaces

• Aids in preserving the walls of visceral organs

• Right Hypochondriac

• Epigastric

• Left Hypochondriac

• Right Lumbar

• Umbilical

• Left Lumbar

• Right Iliac (Inguinal)

• Hypogastric (Pubic)

• Left Iliac (Inguinal)

Abdominal Anatomical Regions

Nine-Region Method

• • Right Upper Quadrant(RUQ)

  • Left Upper Quadrant(LUQ)

  • Right Lower Quadrant(RLQ)

  • Left Lower Quadrant(LLQ)

Four Abdominopelvic Quadrant Method

Stomach Injection (Trocar Guide)

• Aim the trocar at the intersection of the 5th intercostal space and the left midaxillary line

  • (Line extends downward from the center of the medial base of the axillary space along the rib cage)

• Advance the trocar until it enters the stomach

• Cecum Injection (Trocar Guide)

  • Aim the trocar toward a point ¼ of the distance from the right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the pubic symphysis

  • Keep the trocar close to the abdominal wall until within 4 inches of the ASIS

  • Then dip the point 2 inches and insert forward into the colon

Right Side of Heart (Trocar Guide)

• Aim the trocar along a line from the left anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the right earlobe

• After passing through the diaphragm, depress the point and enter the right side of the heart

Urinary Bladder (Trocar Guide)

• Keep the trocar close to the abdominal wall

• Direct it toward the midline of the pubic bone (symphysis pubis) until it touches the bone

• Retract slightly, depress the point, and insert into the urinary bladder

• Trocar

• Tubing

• Hydroaspirator

• Electric aspirator

• Autopsy aspirator

Aspiration and injection equipment

• Nasal Tube aspirator

• Gravity injector

• Cavity injector

• Hand pump

Trocar Methods

• Direct Incision Method – The trocar itself is used to make the incision.

• Surgical/Autopsy Method – The body cavity is already open due to an autopsy, partial autopsy, or surgical procedure.

Aspiration and injection methods

Aspiration and injection methods

Cranial Cavity (Trocar Method)

• A small trocar is inserted through the nostril

• Advance it through the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone

Aspiration and injection methods

• Thoracic and Abdominal Method

  Purpose

  • Remove torso contents to prevent internal organ decomposition

  Method

  • Standard trocar entry: 2 inches left and 2 inches above the umbilicus

  pelvic

Aspiration and injection methods

• Order of Treatment

  1. Thoracic cavity

  2. Abdominal cavity

  3. Pelvic cavity

  When injecting cavity fluid, follow the same order: thoracic → abdominal → pelvic

Re-aspiration

• • Circumstances Requiring Treatment

    • Several hours after embalming, it may be necessary to aspirate the body cavities again

    • This process is called re-aspiration

• Predisposing conditions

  • Intestinal flora

  • Pathological

  • Decomposition

  • Environmental

  • Obesity

​Types and Characteristics of Purge – Stomach

• Consistency: Liquid or semi-solid, often resembling coffee grounds

• Odor: Acidic

• Contents: May include stomach contents, blood, or arterial solution text here

​Types and Characteristics of Purge – Lungs

• Consistency: Frothy with air bubbles

• Color: Clear, off-white, or yellow-white; may be tinged with red blood

• Odor: Minimal

• Contents: Respiratory fluids, possibly mixed with arterial solution

Types and Characteristics of Purge – Brain

• Consistency: Creamy white and semi-solid

• Causes: Swelling, putrefaction of the brain, or head trauma

• Contents: Brain tissue, arterial solution, and blood

Types and Characteristics of Purge – Anal

• Consistency: Liquid or semi-solid

• Color: Very dark, resembling pitch or tar

• Odor: Strong, foul

• Relieve abdominal pressure and distention caused by gas

• Remove edema from the abdomen

• Aspirate thoroughly – repeat as necessary

• Pack orifices tightly before dressing and casketing

• Re-aspiration of all cavities and distribution of cavity fluid to all areas