Differentiation at necropsy between in vivo gas embolism and putrefaction using a gas score

Gas bubble lesions consistent with decompression sickness in marine mammals were described for the first time in beaked whales stranded in temporal and spatial association with military exercises. Putrefaction gas is a post-mortem artifact, which hinders the interpretation of gas found at necropsy....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Research in veterinary science 2016-06, Vol.106, p.48-55
Main Authors: Bernaldo de Quirós, Yara, Saavedra, Pedro, Møllerløkken, Andreas, Brubakk, Alf O., Jørgensen, Arve, González-Díaz, Oscar, Martín-Barrasa, Jose L., Fernández, Antonio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Autopsy - methods
Cetacea
Colleges & universities
Decompression
Embolisms
Experiments
Gas bubbles
Gas embolism
Gases
Laboratory animals
Marine mammals
Models, Animal
Parameter estimation
Postmortem Changes
Putrefaction
Rabbits
Sonar
Stranded marine mammals
Veins & arteries
Venous gas index
Veterinary medicine
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Summary:Gas bubble lesions consistent with decompression sickness in marine mammals were described for the first time in beaked whales stranded in temporal and spatial association with military exercises. Putrefaction gas is a post-mortem artifact, which hinders the interpretation of gas found at necropsy. Gas analyses have been proven to help differentiating putrefaction gases from gases formed after hyperbaric exposures. Unfortunately, chemical analysis cannot always be performed. Post-mortem computed tomography is used to study gas collections, but many different logistical obstacles and obvious challenges, like the size of the animal or the transport of the animal from the stranding location to the scanner, limit its use in stranded marine mammals. In this study, we tested the diagnostic value of an index-based method for characterizing the amount and topography of gas found grossly during necropsies. For this purpose, putrefaction gases, intravenously infused atmospheric air, and gases produced by decompression were evaluated at necropsy with increased post-mortem time in New Zealand White Rabbits using a gas score index. Statistical differences (P
ISSN:0034-5288
1532-2661
DOI:10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.03.007