BACKGROUND : It is known that nasopharyngeal temperature is correlated with intracranial temperature. The reliability of the correlation between nasopharyngeal and intracranial temperature however may be equal to or perhaps greater than tympanic temperature, due to the anatomical location of the nasopharynx, close to the cavernous sinus and the carotid arteries. To date, only one forensic study of nasopharyngeal temperature application to the time of death exists (Nokes et al. 1992). We attempted to record the variations of nasopharyngeal temperature compared to the post mortem interval. METHOD: This preliminary study was carried out on corpses transported at the Civic Morgue in Milan when the precise time of death was known: in particular, victims of traffic accidents or other violent deaths, witnessed sudden deaths or falls from height. For each body circumstantial and personal data were collected, and recordings of room temperature, rectal, tympanic and nasopharyngeal temperature were continuously taken during the first 24 h after death, with a metal probe “Escort data Logger iMiniPlus” thermometer. RESULTS: Currently, 13 cases were enrolled in the study, died of multiple injuries from car accidents or falls from a height. All corpses reached the Milan Civic Morgue between the 4th and the 6th hour after death. Each case showed a regular and similar nasopharyngeal thermal decrease with an inverted peak during the first hours and a subsequent tendency to a plateau phase. Comparing the curves with those related to the rectal temperature, a similar descending trend was observed, always with a delta of 2-9 Celsius degrees, being the rectal temperature always greater. The comparison with tympanic temperatures shows different curves with a tendency to overlap, though not always following the same decreasing rate. CONCLUSION: In our experience, nasopharyngeal temperature has proved to be easily accessible by inserting the thermometer probe through the nostrils along a transverse anterior-posterior line. This can be taken into account in order to positively reassess a method that is simple to use in consideration of its practical application during forensic inspection of a corpse, moreover it can help to preserve any findings in the perianal area. The number of surveys so far is still too small to create a precise descending temperature curve, but we hope that our encouraging results will lead to more research in order to create yet another valid alternative in a complex problem of PMI estimation.

Nasopharyngeal temperature as a method for the estimation of the time of death: a preliminary study / A. Battistini, M.B. Casali, F. Mobilia, A. Rendinelli, C. Cattaneo, R. Zoia. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE. - ISSN 0937-9827. - 126:Suppl. 1(2012), pp. S80-S80. ((Intervento presentato al 22. convegno Congress of the International Academy of Legal Medicine tenutosi a Istanbul nel 2012.

Nasopharyngeal temperature as a method for the estimation of the time of death: a preliminary study

A. Battistini
Primo
;
M.B. Casali;A. Rendinelli;C. Cattaneo
Penultimo
;
R. Zoia
Ultimo
2012

Abstract

BACKGROUND : It is known that nasopharyngeal temperature is correlated with intracranial temperature. The reliability of the correlation between nasopharyngeal and intracranial temperature however may be equal to or perhaps greater than tympanic temperature, due to the anatomical location of the nasopharynx, close to the cavernous sinus and the carotid arteries. To date, only one forensic study of nasopharyngeal temperature application to the time of death exists (Nokes et al. 1992). We attempted to record the variations of nasopharyngeal temperature compared to the post mortem interval. METHOD: This preliminary study was carried out on corpses transported at the Civic Morgue in Milan when the precise time of death was known: in particular, victims of traffic accidents or other violent deaths, witnessed sudden deaths or falls from height. For each body circumstantial and personal data were collected, and recordings of room temperature, rectal, tympanic and nasopharyngeal temperature were continuously taken during the first 24 h after death, with a metal probe “Escort data Logger iMiniPlus” thermometer. RESULTS: Currently, 13 cases were enrolled in the study, died of multiple injuries from car accidents or falls from a height. All corpses reached the Milan Civic Morgue between the 4th and the 6th hour after death. Each case showed a regular and similar nasopharyngeal thermal decrease with an inverted peak during the first hours and a subsequent tendency to a plateau phase. Comparing the curves with those related to the rectal temperature, a similar descending trend was observed, always with a delta of 2-9 Celsius degrees, being the rectal temperature always greater. The comparison with tympanic temperatures shows different curves with a tendency to overlap, though not always following the same decreasing rate. CONCLUSION: In our experience, nasopharyngeal temperature has proved to be easily accessible by inserting the thermometer probe through the nostrils along a transverse anterior-posterior line. This can be taken into account in order to positively reassess a method that is simple to use in consideration of its practical application during forensic inspection of a corpse, moreover it can help to preserve any findings in the perianal area. The number of surveys so far is still too small to create a precise descending temperature curve, but we hope that our encouraging results will lead to more research in order to create yet another valid alternative in a complex problem of PMI estimation.
time of death; nasopharyngeral temperature; post mortem interval; forensic pathology
Settore MED/43 - Medicina Legale
2012
International Academy of Legal Medicine
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/204789
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