title: Post-mortem computed tomography ventilation; simulating breath holding.
abstract: Whilst the literature continues to report on advances in the use of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), particularly in relation to post-mortem angiography, there are few papers published that address the diagnostic problems related to post-mortem changes in the lungs and ventilation. We present a development of previous methods to achieve ventilated PMCT (VPMCT). We successfully introduced a supraglottic airway in 17/18 cases without causing overt damage, despite rigor mortis. Using a clinical portable ventilator, we delivered continuous positive airway pressure to mimic clinical breath-hold inspiratory scans. This caused significant lung expansion and a reduction in lung density and visible normal post-mortem changes. All thoracic pathology identified at autopsy, including pneumonia, was diagnosed on VPMCT in this small series. This technique provides a rapid form of VPMCT, which can be used in both permanent and temporary mortuaries, allowing for the post-mortem radiological comparison of pre-ventilation and post-ventilation images mimicking expiratory and inspiratory phases. We believe that it will enhance the diagnostic ability of PMCT in relation to lung pathology.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Department, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pakkal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Rutty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D062485:Breath Holding; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*