Innovative method for carbon dioxide determination in human postmortem cardiac gas samples using headspace-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and stable labeled isotope as internal standard

Varlet, Vincent; Smith, Fiona; Froidmont, Sébastien de; Domínguez, Alejandro; Rinaldi, A; Augsburger, Marc; Mangin, Patrice; Grabherr, Silke

doi:10.1016/j.aca.2013.04.046

Cited by 25 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…PMCT is usually the technique used to obtain samples from specific organs and tissues for histological examination [36]. Beside liquid samples for toxicology, microbiology etc., and histological samples, gas can be sampled from the body in order to allow analysis of its composition [37]. This can be useful to differentiate vital air embolism from postmortem gas collections [38] or to investigate scuba diving accidents [39].…”

Section: Postmortem Tissue Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postmortem imaging as a complementary tool for the investigation of cardiac death

Michaud

Genet

Sabatasso

et al. 2019

Forensic Sciences Research

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In the past 2 decades, modern radiological methods, such as multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT), MDCT-angiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were introduced into postmortem practice for investigation of sudden death (SD), including cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD). In forensic cases, the underlying cause of SD is most frequently cardiovascular with coronary atherosclerotic disease as the leading cause. There are many controversies about the role of postmortem imaging in establishing the cause of death and especially the value of minimally invasive autopsy techniques. This paper discusses the state of the art for postmortem radiological evaluation of the heart compared to classical postmortem examination, especially in cases of SCD. In SCD cases, postmortem CT is helpful to estimate the heart size and to visualize haemopericardium and calcified plaques and valves, as well as to identify and locate cardiovascular devices. Angiographic methods are useful to provide a detailed view of the coronary arteries and to analyse them, especially regarding the extent and location of stenosis and obstruction. In postsurgical cases, it allows verification and documentation of the patency of stents and bypass grafts before opening the body. Postmortem MRI is used to investigate soft tissues such as the myocardium, but images are susceptible to postmortem changes and further work is necessary to increase the understanding of these radiological aspects, especially of the ischemic myocardium. In postsurgery cases, the value of postmortem imaging of the heart is reportedly for the diagnostic and documentation purposes. The implementation of new imaging methods into routine postmortem practice is challenging, as it requires not only an investment in equipment but, more importantly, investment in the expertise of interpreting the images. Once those requirements are implemented, however, they bring great advantages in investigating cases of SCD, as they allow documentation of the body, orientation of sampling for further analyses and gathering of other information that cannot be obtained by conventional autopsy such as a complete visualization of the vascular system using postmortem angiography. KEY POINTSThere are no established guidelines for the interpretation of postmortem imaging examination of the heart At present, postmortem imaging methods are considered as less accurate than the autopsy for cardiac deaths Postmortem imaging is useful as a complementary tool for cardiac deaths There is still a need to validate postmortem imaging in cardiac deaths by comparing with autopsy findings ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Postmortem Tissue Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postmortem imaging as a complementary tool for the investigation of cardiac death

Michaud

Genet

Sabatasso

et al. 2019

Forensic Sciences Research

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“…The three-way taps were then closed and the syringe, tap and needle from each reservoir were removed from the body. The gas samples were then individually transferred from the syringe into a 20 mL headspace vial containing water [4,21,22], where water was expelled to compensate for the introduction of gas volume. A residual water quantity was left in each vial to permit complete seal.…”

Section: Internal Gas Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This procedure for collecting gas reservoirs has already been implemented during the medico-legal investigation of the bodies [4,21,22]. Thus, the samples for this study were collected in the same manner in order to allow several analyses to be performed on the same sample.…”

Section: Internal Gas Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postmortem Internal Gas Reservoir Monitoring Using GC×GC-HRTOF-MS

et al. 2016

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Forensic investigations often require postmortem examination of a body. However, the collection of evidence during autopsy is often destructive, meaning that the body can no longer be examined in its original state. In order to obtain an internal image of the body, whole body postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has proven to be a valuable non-destructive tool and is currently used in medicolegal centers. PMCT can also be used to visually locate gas reservoirs inside a cadaver, which upon analysis can provide useful information regarding very volatile compounds that are produced after death. However, the non-targeted profiling of all potential volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in these reservoirs has never been attempted. The aim of this study was to investigate the VOC profile of these reservoirs and to evaluate potential uses of such information to document circumstances surrounding death, cause of death and body taphonomy. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC×GC-HRTOF-MS) was used for VOC measurements. This study demonstrated that the chemical composition of VOCs within the gas reservoirs differed between locations within a single body but also between individuals. In the future, this work could be expanded to investigate a novel, non-destructive cadaver screening approach prior to full autopsy procedures.

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“…A lower concentration in lungs but high concentrations in liver, kidney, brain, urine would favorize the hypothesis of a longer exposure and a certain metabolisation of the gas. Similarly, gas samples should be of interest in case of vital gas embolisms, scuba diving accidents (Decompression Compression Sickness) or suicides with noble gases [18]. Gas sampling under laser guidance is an efficient and precise tool to recover gas samples located into the body [19].…”

Section: What Is the Analytical Strategy?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Deuterated alkanes have been specifically used for methane [21], propane [14] and butane [22]. Similarly, 13 C compounds have been used for CO and CO2 quantification [18,23]. However, if tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS) can improve the sensitivity of most of analytical methods and substances quantification, in the particular case of gases, MS/MS appears as not relevant because of the weak molecular mass of the gases and the impossibility to monitor specific transitions.…”

Section: What Is the Analytical Strategy?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Place of Gas Analysis in Forensic Toxicology

Varlet¹

2015

FLIS

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Innovative method for carbon dioxide determination in human postmortem cardiac gas samples using headspace-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and stable labeled isotope as internal standard

Cited by 25 publications

References 18 publications

Postmortem imaging as a complementary tool for the investigation of cardiac death

Postmortem imaging as a complementary tool for the investigation of cardiac death

Postmortem Internal Gas Reservoir Monitoring Using GC×GC-HRTOF-MS

The Place of Gas Analysis in Forensic Toxicology

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