The value of the post mortem analysis of carboxyhemoglobin concentration in the blood: A 15-year study

Abstract

Introduction/Objective The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) concentration in all autopsy cases of fire and non-fire victims - all those who have been suspected to be under the influence of carbon monoxide (CO) in the Belgrade area during a 15-year period (1990-2005). Methods Correlations between the concentration of HbCO, circumstances of death, vital signs, and prior health conditions, smoking and history of alcohol-abuse, have been particularly analyzed in 192 autopsy cases. Results The investigation included 52 (27%) females and 140 (73%) males, their average age being 50.78 years. CO poisoning has been established as the cause of death in 74 cases (38%). The manner of death in 170 cases (89%) was an accident, in eight (3%) suicide, in two (1%) murder, in 11 (6%) natural death, and in one case the manner of death hasn't been established. Such distribution of the manner of death differentiates this study from others of similar type, and it is conditioned by the specificity of life in this region. Conclusion The predictors of a high HbCO concentration are the sex, cause of death, manner of death, soot aspiration, lower-degree burns. According to the results, we profiled a typical victim of CO poisoning.

Uvod/Cilj Cilj retrospektivne studije bio je određivanje koncentracije karboksihemoglobina (HbCO) u svim slučajevima žrtava iz požara i onih koji nisu u vezi sa njim, na području Beograda, u periodu 1990-2005, odnosno svih sluačajeva za koje se sumnjalo da su bili izloženi ugljen-monoksidu (SO). Metode U 192 slučaja obdukcije posebno su analizirane: korelacija između koncentracije HbCO, okolnosti umiranja, vitalnih reakcija, prethodnog zdravstvenog stanja, pušenja i zloupotrebe alkohola. Rezultati Ispitivanje je obuhvatilo 52 (27%) žene i 140 (73%) muškaraca prosečne starosti 50,78 godina. Trovanje SO je utvrđeno kao uzrok smrti u 74 slučaja (38%). U 170 slučajeva (89%) radilo se o zadesima, u 8 (3%) o samoubistvima, u 2 (1%) o ubistvima. U 11 slučajeva (6%) reč je bilo o prirodnoj smrti, dok u jednom slučaju uzrok smrti nije ustanovljen. Ovakva raspodela diferencira ovu studiju od sličnih i uslovljena je specifičnostima života u regionu. Zaključak Prediktori visoke koncentracije HbCO su pol, uzrok smrti, način smrti, aspiracija čađi, stepen izgorevanja. Na osnovu rezultata napravljen je profil žrtve trovanja SO.