Experimental Study on Estimating the Postmortem Interval in Rabbits Hemorrhagic Shock Death Model Using Liver Computed Tomography Images / 中国医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship between changes in the liver computed tomography (CT) images and the postmortem interval (PMI) of rabbits 129 h after their death due to hemorrhagic shock. Methods CT scanning was used to investigate the hemorrhagic shock death model in 23 rabbits to identify the postmortem cerebral changes from 0 h to 129 h after death. Results The liver or lumbar area in the liver window showed the following characteristic changes: from unchanged, to rapid shrinkage, to slow shrinkage; the mean CT values of the liver initially increased and subsequently decreased. The regression equations for the relationship between the two indices and PMI were established by surgery, and they all had statistical significance (P ＜ 0. 01). Conclusion CT scanning can accurately show changes in the rabbit liver after death. The mean CT value of the liver tissue is more sensitive for inferring early PMI. Furthermore, the liver area/lumbar area ratio parameters are more sensitive for inferring mid-late PMI.