Hitze

Thermal Injuries in Veterinary Forensic Pathology

“…48 It has been shown on shaved skin of guinea pigs and rats that contact to a heated iron item for 60 seconds results in transient erythema at 50 C and a crust at 55 C. At 60-65 C, the epidermis is easily separated from the dermis, and at [70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80] C, heat coagulation induces a stiff yellow eschar representing dead tissue that sheds or falls off of healthy skin. 43 Full-thickness burns of rat skin occur within 10 minutes after exposure to 55 C, while the same lesion develops in 3 minutes at 60 C. 80 The temperature achieved in the tissue decreases progressively and rapidly with higher penetration depth. 43 Experimental exposure of shaved canine skin to steam for 20 seconds resulted in a temperature of 85 C at a tissue depth of 0.5 mm, 66 C at a depth of 1 mm, 60 C at a depth of 2 mm, and 50 C at a depth of 3 mm.…”

“…43 Full-thickness burns of rat skin occur within 10 minutes after exposure to 55 C, while the same lesion develops in 3 minutes at 60 C. 80 The temperature achieved in the tissue decreases progressively and rapidly with higher penetration depth. 43 Experimental exposure of shaved canine skin to steam for 20 seconds resulted in a temperature of 85 C at a tissue depth of 0.5 mm, 66 C at a depth of 1 mm, 60 C at a depth of 2 mm, and 50 C at a depth of 3 mm. 60 Exposure to a heat source of 70 C causes considerably more severe damage at a defined tissue depth after 60 seconds compared to after 10 seconds.…”

“…41,43,45,48 The relationship of temperature and time is important because even relatively low temperatures may be harmful; for example, skin exposed to water of 44 C causes scalds after an exposure time of 6 hours. 48 It has been shown on shaved skin of guinea pigs and rats that contact to a heated iron item for 60 seconds results in transient erythema at 50 C and a crust at 55 C. At 60-65 C, the epidermis is easily separated from the dermis, and at [70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80] C, heat coagulation induces a stiff yellow eschar representing dead tissue that sheds or falls off of healthy skin.…”

“…Findings indicating vital exposure to fire usually occur simultaneously with various extents of postmortem heat damage. 43 Wet heat injuries or scalds typically display a morphological appearance different from lesions caused by dry heat exposure. The inhalation of hot gases or steam results in heat-associated alterations, particularly of the upper respiratory tract.…”

“…Surviving patients often have necrotizing inflammation of the airways, and many victims die due to secondary bacterial infections. 43 Cold-associated injuries comprise localized lesions that are graded according to their severity. Local hypothermia induces cell and tissue damage directly as well as by circulatory changes.…”