Embalming 1 Flashcards
Why do we embalm?
“We embalm to disinfect the body and protect the living.”
What is embalming?
o EM - in, or about
o Balm - resinous substance or balsamic agents.
embalming is a process of chemically treating the dead human body to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms, to retard (slow down) organic decomposition, and to restore an acceptable physical appearance.
non-legal definition of embalming
The process of disinfecting, temporary preserving and restoring the dead human body by the injection into the arteries, a suitable amount of a proper chemical. –is based upon fluid distribution - movement of arterial fluid from point of injection to the capillaries.
vascular embalming
We inject into the arteries because
the fluid goes away from the heart The chemical is arterial fluid 16.oz - one gallon/50 lbs. of body weight.
movement of arterial fluid from point of injection to the capillaries.
fluid distribution
movement of arterial fluid through the capillaries to the tissues from intravascular to extravascular (inside to outside)
fluid diffusion
retain the fluid within the body.
retention
a. Direct treatment -other than vascular embalming of the content of the body cavities and the lumen of the hollow viscera.
cavity embalming
cavity embalming Accomplished by two major steps:
Aspiration of the contents of the cavities and viscera. andThe injection of a suitable amount of a proper chemical
Has the maximum amount of disinfecting and preservation with the minimum amount of fluid.
undiluted cavity fluid
A rule of thumb on a normal case, for undiluted cavity fluid is
16 ounces in the thoracic cavity and 16 ounces in the abdominal cavity.
: injection of embalming chemicals directly into tissues through the use of needle, syringe, Trocar.The disinfecting and temporary preservation of a local area by the subcuticular injection of a suitable chemical.
hyperdermic embalming
types of disinfecting
- Primary disinfecting 2. Concurrent disinfecting 3. Terminal disinfecting
• The disinfecting and temporary preservation of a local area by the external application of a compress of a suitable material. This is a supplement to vascular and arterial embalming
Surface (pack or absorption) Embalming:
reasons for embalming
- The primary reason (need) we embalm - To disinfect. The destruction or inhibiting of pathogenic bacteria and their products in or on the body.2. * Temporary preservation - Treating the dead human body chemically so as to inhibit (slow down) decomposition.3. * Restoration - The care of the deceased to recreate natural form and color.
disinfecting carried out prior to the embalming process. Washing the body.
primary disinfecting
disinfecting carried out during the embalming process.
concurrent disinfecting
disinfecting and decontamination measures after the preparation of the remains. Also include cleaning the prep room and instruments, etc. Also, the re washing of the body.
terminal disinfecting
credited with being the father of embalming
Dr. Frederick Ruysch
Father of modern US embalming / invented hand pump / disaster pouch
Dr. Thomas Holmes
wrote the “History of Embalming” in French.
Jean Gannal
translated Gannal’s book to English.—1st to realize value of embalming from disease standpoint— performed research of bubonic plaque while at Penn State
Dr. Richard Harlan
was the first to produce formaldehyde (HCHO) Chemical formula - HCHO. Primary formula for embalming, free state gas.
• August Wilhelm vonHofman
NOTES
• Always show respect to the deceased.• Always maintain the highest standards.
PREP ROOM
o Limit admission to the preparation room during preparation.o Licensed funeral service professional and registered trainees.o Those authorized by law / authorized by familyAuthorized persons can be in the prep room when no embalming.o Maintenance employees.o Hairdresser, cosmetologist, etc.o Staff members for dressing and casketing remains.
Identify and secure the prep room
• Place a sign on the preparation room door indicating private; authorized persons only.• State of Texas indicates that it must be private and have no general passageway through it.• Keep the door locked.
instruct and maintain the highest standards
• Keep the body covered as practical - genital area always.• Guard against loose talk and remarks.• Repeat nothing outside the preparation room.• Disclose no confidential facts as to conditions, deformities or diseases causing death.
authorization to embalm
Not a state law to embalm. 1. Verbal permission. (Do we have your permission to embalm?) 2. Written permission.
Identification procedures
• Personal effects - inventory a must. (House Call)• Proper remains - the body itself - identify by the family - especially a body to be cremated.• Make sure you remove jewelry that the family has requested after the funeral service.• There may be cases that you need to inform authorities, police, ME, Coroner’s office (JP is used in Texas), if something is found. It is your duty to follow OSHA requirements and inform all employees to follow required procedures and train employees. Help protect your employees.
embalming report
complete an embalming report for every case, on which you perform any embalming procedure. This is your documentation as to the embalming procedure you have performed. (see pages 13-17 for example forms).
Vascular embalming is based upon
Fluid distributionFluid diffusionRetention
Irreversible cessation (a stop, pause, or interruption, especially a permanent discontinuation) of all vital functions. Such as: respiration - breathing heart action - circulation brain action - waves
non legal definition of death
the noise made by a moribund (dying) person caused by air passing through a residue of mucous in the trachea and posterior oral cavity
death rattle
time immediately preceding death
agonal period
the semi-convulsive twitches which often occur before death.
death struggle
conditions in which the manifestations of life are feebly maintained. (think the person is dead, coma state)Respiration, heart action, brain action are shallow and sometime hard to detect.
apparent death
body of a deceased person including cremated remains
human remains
those elements remaining after cremation of a dead human body.
cremated remains
dead human body used for medical purposes, including anatomical dissection and study.
cadaver
the study of death
thanatology
death of an organism (body) as a whole. Pronouncement of death. Historically it is recognized by the failure of one of three organs. (heart, brain, lungs)
somatic death
death of the heart
syncope
death of the brain
coma
death of the lungs
asphyxia
Death of the individual cells of the body
post mortem cellular death
Final cause of post mortem cellular death is
oxygen starvation
Post mortem cellular death will occur _____ somatic death
after
Somatic death will occur ______ or _______to post morten cellular death.
before or prior
Factors influencing onset of postmortem cellular death
Cause of deathEnvironmental conditions – temperature can be a factor, coolers help slow down decompositionCondition of BodyMedication preceding death – meds can alter body chemistry
death occurring in a living body
anti-mortem
Can cellular death occur anti-mortem?
Yes
these cells will die quicker after somatic death.
specialized cells
Brain cells live about
5 to 8 minutes
muscle cells live about
3 hours
cornea and blood cells live about
6 to 8 hours
The major element remaining after cremation is?
calcium (bone).
Those manifestations of death by which we may recognize its presence in the body.
signs of death
the separation of compounds into simpler substances by the action of microbial and/or autolytic enzymes.
decompostion
self destruction of body compounds.
autolytic enzymes
most reliable sign of death
decomposition
the stopping of blood flowing through the body.
cessation of circulation
the stopping of breathing
cessation of respiration
Post mortem cooling of the body to the surrounding temperature.
algor mortis
Also referred to as CADAVERIC lividity. The post mortem, intravascular, red-blue discoloration resulting from the hypostasis of blood.
liver mortis
inside the vessels
intravascular
the gravitation of the blood into the lower part of the body.
hypostasis
Can livor mortis be removed with normal arterial injection and venous drainage? Yes or No? Why?
Yes, because it is intravascular
the post mortem temporary stiffening of the body muscles due to natural chemicals the body process.
rigor mortis
At death the muscles do not function. O sign and Q sign – reflecting muscle relaxation.
complete muscular relaxation
name the changes of the eye in regards to the signs of death
Clouding of the cornea and loss of luster. Flattening of the eyeball. Pupil does not respond to light.
Any procedure used to prove a sign of death.
test for death
how many expert tests are there for death
4
What are the four expert tests used for death?
a) Stethoscope - b) Ophthalmoscope - c) Electronic life detection devices EKG – Electrocardiogram – EEG – Encephalogram – ABR – auditory brainstem response – d) Injection of various dyes into the body to check for circulation -
a delicate instrument used to detect almost inaudible sounds produced in the body.
stethoscope
an optical instrument with an accompanying light that makes it possible to examine the retina and explore blood circulation in the eyes.
ophthalmoscope
check activity of the heart
EKG- electrocardiogram
check for brain wave activity.
EEG- encephalagram
checks for brain response responsible for vital acts of breathing and pulse.
ABR- auditory brainstem response
an expert test for test injects dye in the the body…2 cc of _______ is injected in the ________ _____If there is circulation what happens?
fluorescein upper armthe whites of the eyes turn green
how many inexpert tests for death are there?
3
Name the three inexpert test for death
ligature testammonia injection testfeel for the pulse
ligate a finger; if it becomes discolored and swells, life is present.
ligature test
hypodermically inject ammonia, if alive, the skin will show a reddish reaction
ammonia injection test
when you use 2 fingers press into neck area at jugular vein / artery area.
feeling for pulse
change occuring prior to the embalming process
pre-embalming changes
Those changes occurring prior to somatic death
Ante mortem (Agonal) changes
Thermal changes - ante mortem
Agonal AlgorAgonal fever
a decrease in the body temperature prior to somatic death. Due to a slow metabolism and poor circulation. Slows the onset of rigor mortis and decomposition
Agonal Algor
- an increase in body temperature prior to somatic death.Commonly found in infectious diseases.Speeds the rate of rigor mortis and decomposition.
Agonal fever
Blood changes - ante mortem
Hypostasis Coagulation
the settling of blood and/or other fluids to the dependent portions of the body.
hypostasis
(clots) congealing of the blood
coagulation
Moisture changes - ante mortem
Agonal edema Agonal dehydration
the escape of blood serum from an intravascular (inside the vein) to an extravascular location immediately before death. There is an increase in moisture in the tissues and cavities. Which results from capillary expansion. Therefore, it speeds the decomposition process.
agonal edema
If agonal edema is present, how will this affect the strength of your diluted arterial fluid?
Increase strength of the arterial solution.
the loss of moisture from the human body prior to somatic death.Could result in the thickening of the blood and dehydration of certain tissue.
agonal dehydration
The movement of microorganisms from one area of the body to another. An example is from the intestinal area to the blood vascular system due to capillary permeability changes. It occurs as organisms normally confined to a specific area of the body by natural body defenses are able to move as the body loses its ability to keep them in check. The movement may be the results of the organism. (1) Having natural motility, (2) entering the blood stream and circulating to other parts of the body, or (3) gravitating to other parts of the body during hypostasis or shift in tissue moisture.
translocation of microorganisms