Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Estimation of Time since Death by Gastric Contents: an Overview


Affiliations
1 Dept. of Forensic Medicine, SSIMS & RC, Davangere, India
2 Dept. of Forensic Medicine, SMC & RC, Tumkur, India
3 Dept. of Physiology, SSIMS & RC, Davangere, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Assessment of time since death is subjected to variable variations because in Biology, variation is a rule and stability is an exception, whereas in Science, stability is a rule and variation is an exception. The time of death estimation plays important role in solving both criminal and civil cases. Many factors contribute to great intra and inter individual variability of gastric emptying. This study is undertaken to collect available literature for reference and to form a common opinion that the doctor can depose safely. During medico-legal autopsy, if the doctor finds distinguishable full meal in the stomach, it would suggest that the victim died within 2 hours after the last meal and 4 hours if it is indistinguishable.

Keywords

Gastric Emptying, Time since Death, Cholecystokinin, Autopsy
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Indu Khurana. Gastric Emptying- Physiological Activities in Stomach: Text Book of Medical Physiology 2006: 1st Edition: Elsevier, pp: 612-613.

  • WF Ganong. Gastric Motility and Emptying-Regulation of Gastrointestinal functions: Review of Medical physiology 2006: 21st Edition: Lange-Mc.Graw Hill Publications; pp 498.

  • RA Liddle et al. Regulation of gastric emptying in humans by Cholecystokinin: Journal of Clinical Investigation (March 1986): Vol. 77; pp: 992-996.

  • K. Sembulingam, Prema Sembulingam. Filling and Emptying of stomach; Movements of Gastrointestinal tract: Essentials of Medical Physiology 2006: 4th Edition: Jaypee Brother’s Publication, New Delhi; pp: 247-248.

  • WF Boron, EL Boulpaep. Filling and Emptying of the stomach- Gastric Emptying: Text Book of Medical Physiology 2009: 2nd Edition: Sounders Elsevier Publication;pp: 909-911.

  • AC Guyton, JE Hal. Motor Functions of the stomach; Propulsion and Mixing of food in Alimenting tract: Text Book of Medical Physiology 2006: 1st Edition: Sounders Elsevier Publishers; pp: 784-786.

  • DN Bateman. Effect of meal temperature and volume on the emptying of liquids from the human stomach: Journal of Physiology 1982: Vol.331; pp: 461-467.

  • JD George. New clinical methods for measuring the rate of gastric emptying-the double sampling test meal: Gut 1968: Vol.9, pp: 237-242.

  • K.S. Narayana Reddy. Gastrointestinal factors in Estimation of Post Mortem interval-Post Mortem changes: The essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology 2008: 27th Edition: Medical Book Company, Hyderabad. pp: 153-155.

  • Stephan Hellming et al. Gastric emptying of fluids and solids in humans: Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2006: Vol.21 (12); pp: 1832-1838.

  • Anderson Franke at al. The effect of Ethanol and alcoholic beverages on gastric emptying of solid meals in humans. Journal of alcoh ol & Alcohol 2005: Vol-40(3); pp: 187-193.

  • Rekka Sankko, Bernard Knight. Stomach Emptying as a measure of time since a death- Pathophysiology of death: Knight’s Forensic Pathology, 2004; 3rd Edition: Arnold – Hadder Headline Group, London: pp: 83-88.

  • CJ Polson, DJ Gee, Bernard Knight. The Stomach Contents and the time of Death- the signs of death: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine 1985: 4th Edition: Pergamum press, Oxford. pp: 32-34.

  • Horowitz M., Pounder DJ. Gastric emptying- Forensic implications of current concepts: Medical science and Law Journal, 1985: Vol-25; pp: 201-214.


Abstract Views: 415

PDF Views: 0




  • Estimation of Time since Death by Gastric Contents: an Overview

Abstract Views: 415  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Vijayakumar B. Jatti
Dept. of Forensic Medicine, SSIMS & RC, Davangere, India
Dharmaraya Ingale
Dept. of Forensic Medicine, SSIMS & RC, Davangere, India
K. Chandru
Dept. of Forensic Medicine, SMC & RC, Tumkur, India
Chandrashekhar Karpoor
Dept. of Physiology, SSIMS & RC, Davangere, India

Abstract


Assessment of time since death is subjected to variable variations because in Biology, variation is a rule and stability is an exception, whereas in Science, stability is a rule and variation is an exception. The time of death estimation plays important role in solving both criminal and civil cases. Many factors contribute to great intra and inter individual variability of gastric emptying. This study is undertaken to collect available literature for reference and to form a common opinion that the doctor can depose safely. During medico-legal autopsy, if the doctor finds distinguishable full meal in the stomach, it would suggest that the victim died within 2 hours after the last meal and 4 hours if it is indistinguishable.

Keywords


Gastric Emptying, Time since Death, Cholecystokinin, Autopsy

References