Gro�tropfiges Fett im Blut des rechten Ventrikels

Abstract

In several cases of fatal blunt-trauma injuries or after exposure to severe burning, large-drop fatty substances, discernible to the naked eye, were found in the venous blood of the right ventricle. Thin-layer chromatographic separation of the extracted lipids demonstrated an increase in the triglyceride fraction. Analysis of the fatty acids by means of combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry showed a shift towards oleic acid. The distribution pattern of the molecular weights was determined by means of DCI-mass spectrometry in order to characterize the triglycerides in detail. The total chemical findings indicated that the visible lipids present in the right ventricle had predominantly derived from the adipose tissues. In cases of post mortem burning (without vital traumata) no typical pulmonary fat embolism had developed despite massive lipemia in the venous blood.

Lung fat embolism in a body changed by putrefaction: a hip fracture antemortem in origin

“…Since the presence of occasional fat droplets may be artefactual, some observers feel that it is necessary to observe any deformation of the emboli as a proof of their antemortem origin. 24 Histologically detectable intravascular fatty deposits that are sausage- or antler-shaped and coherent can always be regarded as being an intravital finding, 25,26 such as in the case presented here. Fat emboli can still be determined quite well in pulmonary vessels for months after death.…”