Lesson 5.3- Selected Conditions (Study Guide)

Describe the appearance of stomach purge.

Brown in color, "coffee ground" appearance, bad odor

How should the embalmer proceed if arterial solution is present in purge and drainage is occurring?

Continue injection with a sufficient amount of solution to satisfy preservative demand

What micro-organism is responsible for the formation of tissue gas and gas gangrene?

Wound infection caused by a toxic-producing spore-forming anaerobic bacterium; clostridium perfringens

List some signs of renal failure.

sallow color to the skin; excoriations on the skin from repetitive scratching due to uremic pruritis; distinct odor from increased amount of urea, ammonia, etc; edema; (harder to observe; acidosis, anemia and gastrointestinal bleeding)

Describe lung purge.

Frothy, may be red or pink due to the presence of blood

This is a fatal disease caused by contamination of a wound infection by a toxin-forming, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium.

Gas gangrene

What is a common cause of subcutaneous emphysema?

Tear or puncture of the pleural sac or lung tissue; caused by rib fracture or surgery

Why is disinfection of instruments so important after treating cases of tissue gas and gas gangrene?

Translocation can occur- bacteria can be transferred to one body to another via contaminated instruments, hypodermic needles, or autopsy instruments

Describe the causes and appearance of brain purge.

Usually a result of skull fracture, surgery, or trauma. Possible for pas to build up inside the cranium; Very rare; appearance is creamy and white

What are the five gases that are found in the dead human body and cause distension?

1- Subcutaneous emphysema 2- Air from embalming machine 3- Gas gangrene 4- Tissue gas 5- Decomposition gas

What two factors are needed for purge to occur?

A substance to purge, and pressure on an organ to evacuate the material

This type of face usually stops when tissues are properly embalmed.

Decomposition gas

Describe subcutaneous emphysema.

Distension of tissues beneath the skin by gas or air from a puncture or tear in the pleural sac or the lung tissue

Explain the significance of the external iliac artery when embalming an obese case.

External iliac arteries are best to be used because they are more superficial than the femoral arteries

What are four ways that pressure responsible for purge can develop?

Gas, Vascular expansion, Arterial solution, Ascites

What ingredient of stomach purge can dry and discolor the skin?

Hydrochloric acid

When positioning an obese case, why is keeping the head high important?

Keeping the head high helps with raising vessels and helps prevent purge, reduces visceral weight

How should the embalmer proceed when arterial solution is present in purge and drainage as stopped?

Stop embalming and begin sectional (6-point) injection

The term used to define the postmortem evacuation of any substance from any external orifice of the body.

Purge