MOR 340 5.1 Terms & SG

What is another term for generalized edema?

Anasarca

Why is cavity embalming important in cases of renal failure?

Because there would usually have bleeding occurring in the gastrointestinal tract and the cavity embalming provides an excellent treatment for the likely bacterial growth and rapid decomposition. It's highly likely their renal failure condition caused formation of gas which cavity embalming would remove.

Which type of edema does NOT respond to embalming treatments and is frequently seen in facialtissues when corticosteroids have been administered?

Cellular (Solid) Edema

Describe Pitting Edema.

Condition in which interstitial spaces contain such excessive amounts of fluid that the skin remains depressed after palpation.

Pitting (Intercellular) edema

Condition in which interstitial spaces contain such excessive amounts of fluid that the skin remains depressed after palpation.

Describe the appearance of desiccated lips and fingertips

Desiccated lips appear black, very wrinkled and shrunken and teeth can be exposed. Fingertips become parchment like and turn a yellow brown.

What is another term for extreme dehydration?

Desiccation

Briefly describe how Epsom salts work on edema.

Epsom salts create a hypertonic solution. This hypertonic solution sets up an osmotic gradient that draws the edema from the tissue spaces toward this concentrated salt solution in the capillaries.

Dessication

Extreme dehydration often resulting in post-embalming discolorations; rendered thoroughly dry; exhausted of moisture.

Anasarca

Generalized accumulation of serous fluid; generalized edema in subcutaneous tissue.

In what situation does the Epsom salt solution work best? In what situation does it NOT work well?

In accompanying average to strong arterial solutions for generalized edema, on facial tissues when edema is recent, such as recent surgeries, heart or aortic surgery. It does not work well when the edema has been present for a long period of time in cases such as trauma cases, drug therapy cases.

What is the theory behind using a very large volume of a mild or average (standard) arterial solutionto treat generalized edema?

It ensures good distribution, large amount of preservative, washes out a good portion of edema.

Discuss the effect of water temperature on embalming fluid reaction.

It impacts surface tension. As temperatures rise the surface tension value of a solution decreases. The warmer the water the more the solution would be expected to expedite penetration, preservation and fixation of tissues. The colder the water the slower the formaldehyde reaction which allows for better distribution/diffusion throughout the body.

Why should one avoid excessive massaging of the hands, neck & face on a dehydrated body?

It not only draws additional fluid into these areas but also removes tissue and arterial solution from these areas.

How is ascites affected by the arterial solution and blood drainage?

No secondary dilution will occur as the arterial solution will not reach the body cavities. It is recommended to make a small incision to remove fluids from the cavity.

What is one of the leading causes of a postmortem loss of moisture?

Refrigeration

After embalming, how could one use gravity as a method of treating edema of the head, face, andneck?

We can place the body on a cot for several hours with the head end fully elevated and the foot end fully lowered. This would allow edema to gravitate from the head, face and neck.

Secondary dilution

Weakening of the embalming fluid by the fluids in the body, both vascular and interstitial.

Under what physiological conditions is edema said to be established?

When there is a 10% increase in total body water.

List five types of "body cavity" edema and describe where they occur.

1. Ascites of the abdominal cavity. 2. Hydrothorax of the pleural cavity. 3. Hydrocephalus of the cranial cavity. 4. Hydropericardium of the pericardial sac surrounding the heart. 5. Hydrocele in the saclike cavity in the tunica vaginalis testes of the male scrotum.

Regarding generalized edema, what are the two main objectives of the embalmer?

1. Inject a solution of sufficient strength and volume to counteract the secondary dilution that occur in the tissues. 2. Remove as much edema from the tissues as possible

What are three general body sites where edema can be found?

1. Intracellular 2. Intercellular 3. Within the body cavity.

List some recommended treatments that will maintain moisture or add moisture to dehydratedbodies

1. Use a moderate arterial solution. 2. Slowly inject arterial solution. 3. Use co-injection fluid with arterial solution. 4. Use humectant co-injection. 5. Run large amounts of fluid through body. 6. Intermittent or alternative drainage. 7. Apply massage cream. 8. Avoid excessive massaging of hands, neck and face. 9. Avoid air currents.

List five of the six types of arterial solutions recommended in treating edema.

1. Very large volume or mild/average arterial solution. 2. Very strong/astringent arterial solution. 3. Special purpose, high index fluid designed specifically for edema. 4. Addition of dehydrating co-injection chemicals. 5. use of Epsom Salts in the arterial solution.

In a normal 160 lbs. adult male, what percentage of body weight does total body water constitute?

55% to 60% of total body weight.

Cellular (Solid) edema

A condition that occurs when moisture is retained by the cell; when palpated, tissue with cellular edema feels very firm to the touch; common in cases where steroid therapy has been administered.

Hydrocephalus

Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain, causing compression of the brain and possibly enlargement of the cranium.

Hydropericardium

Abnormal accumulation of edematous fluid within the pericardial sac.

Hydrothorax

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the thoracic cavity.

Define Edema.

Abnormal accumulation of fluids in tissue or body cavities.

Edema

Abnormal accumulation of fluids in tissue or body cavities.

Hydrocele

Abnormal collection of edematous fluid in a sac-like cavity in the body, most commonly edema of the scrotum.

Ascites

Accumulation of serous fluids in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity.