Prajith Thekke Madathil1, Krishnakumar Siva Sankara Narayanan2
BACKGROUND Drowning still remains as a diagnostic dilemma in forensic pathology owing to the lack of characteristic autopsy findings with any general acceptance so far. The lung is the most commonly affected organ in cases of entry of water into it during the process of drowning and in aspiration of gastric contents into air passages which may occur in many different situations. The response of lungs in these regards stands poorly analysed by autopsy studies. This autopsy-based study is aimed at comparing these with the same features that may occur in cases of aspiration of gastric contents into the air passages for their differences in frequency and intensity. MATERIALS AND METHODS This autopsy study was undertaken in the department of Forensic Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Calicut during the period July 2009 through December 2009 and was aimed at observing the possible differences in the morphological patterns of Acute Lung Injury in cases of drowning and cases of aspiration of gastric contents into the air passages in different common situations, and compare both. RESULTS Significant differences between the study groups were observed in four morphological traits i.e. pale in colour, distension with lungs overlapping the heart in front or ballooning or maximum possible distension, absence of oedema (lungs appearing dry and pale) and consistency- doughy. CONCLUSION The combination of these graded on simple naked eye examination had the “Emphysema Aquosum” picture typically described in cases of drowning by many early workers.
