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Perimortale Artefakte

Differenzialdiagnosen bei der Leichenschau und Sektion

Perimortal artifacts

Differential diagnoses during external examination of the corpse and autopsy

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Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Ärzte werden in der täglichen Leichenschaupraxis nicht selten mit Befunden konfrontiert, deren Ursprung zunächst unklar ist. Ein Teil dieser Befunde entstammt perimortalen Vorgängen, deren Kenntnis insbesondere den Berufsanfänger vor fatalen Fehleinschätzungen bewahren kann. Es werden im Folgenden „alltägliche“ Befunde vorgestellt, die durch Laienhelfer, Notärzte, Rettungspersonal, Leichenschauärzte und Bestatter im Rahmen ihrer Berufsausübung an der Leiche äußerlich sowie innerlich hinterlassen werden und deren Herkunft oftmals nicht auf den ersten Blick zu erkennen ist.

Material und Methoden

Basierend auf eigenen Erfahrungen und Literaturrecherchen wurden perimortale Artefakte erfasst und hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung für Leichenschau und Sektion bewertet. Ziel war dabei nicht eine vollständige Zusammenstellung, sondern die Auswahl typischer oder differenzialdiagnostisch bedeutsamer perimortaler Veränderungen.

Abstract

Background

In routine postmortem examination of corpses doctors are often confronted with findings the origin of which is not immediately clear. Some of these findings result from interventions by lay rescuers, paramedics, rescue personnel, morticians and previous postmortem examinations. The origins of these external and internal changes of the body are often not recognized at first glance.

Material and methods

Based on personal experience and literature searches perimortem artefacts were compiled and evaluated in terms of their importance for the external examination and the autopsy. The objective was not a complete collection but a selection of typical perimortem changes and differential diagnoses.

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Hädrich, C., Banaschak, S. & Dreßler, J. Perimortale Artefakte. Rechtsmedizin 22, 17–23 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-011-0790-9

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