title: Decomposed and non-decomposed bodies retrieved from water: a comparative approach.
abstract: The cause and manner of death in submersion cases are a routine challenge for forensic pathologists as they present considerable diagnostic difficulties. The present study was undertaken with a view to determine the characteristic pattern in bodies retrieved from water. From a total of 6779 medicolegal deaths reported at an Apex Medical Centre, Yeotmal, a rural district of Maharashtra over a 10-year study period, only 110 cases (1.6%) were decomposed and 243 cases (3.6%) were non-decomposed bodies retrieved from water with a rate of 0.6 decomposed body as compared with 1.4 non-decomposed bodies per 100,000 population per year. However, out of total 353 bodies retrieved from water, 31.2% were decomposed and 68.8% non-decomposed. Male predominance was seen in both groups with peak at 31-40 years. The cause and manner of death were ascertained as 89.9% and 82.7%, respectively, in decomposed bodies as compared with 100% and 96.3%, respectively, in non-decomposed bodies. Drowning was the commonest cause of death in both groups with suicide as the commonest manner of death in decomposed bodies in contrast to accidental in non-decomposed bodies. Excessive amount of pleural fluid, aquatic animal activity and mud/vegetation in lower respiratory tract was more commonly encountered in decomposed bodies. However, fine white froth was not seen in any of the cases in contrast to 81% non-decomposed bodies. Bodies were commonly recovered from wells in both groups. Most of the bodies were retrieved in the rainy season followed by summer and winter seasons in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Maharashtra, India. vipulambade@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Vipul Namdeorao
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Ambade
authors.forename: Hemant Ghanshyam
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kukde
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malani
authors.forename: Nilesh Keshav
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Tumram
authors.forename: Jaydeo Laxman
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Borkar
authors.forename: Anil Krishnaram
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.forename: Satin Kalidas
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Meshram
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D004332:Drowning / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult