Embalming Case Report 1

You are presented with a case involving a 34-year-old male who passed away at a local hospital following a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer. The decedent weighs approximately 142 lbs and presents with tissue wasting in the facial and neck regions. The cause of death was organ failure secondary to metastatic pancreatic cancer, with contributing factors of malnutrition and hepatic dysfunction. Time elapsed between death and embalming is 8 hours. The body has been properly refrigerated since pronouncement of death.

Answer the following questions in a narrative essay format. Use fictitious names and information where appropriate while maintaining realistic technical details.

Required Analysis Points

1. Identify and explain all intrinsic factors that might affect the embalming process. (Remember: “intrinsic conditions” refer to factors directly related to the deceased body itself, like the cause of death, disease processes, body composition, and post-mortem changes, while “extrinsic conditions” refer to external factors like the time elapsed since death, environmental temperature, clothing, and storage conditions that affect the embalming process).

2. Discuss all relevant extrinsic factors that must be considered.

3. Detail your chosen injection and drainage techniques, providing justification for your approach.

4. Specify the types of fluids you would use, including:

Primary arterial fluid index

Any pre-injection solutions

Co-injection chemicals

Cavity fluid selection

5. Explain your planned pressure and flow rate management, including:

Initial pressure settings

Any anticipated adjustments

Rationale for your choices

6. Evaluate the potential need for:

Topical treatment

Surface embalming

Hypodermic injection

Include specific areas requiring special attention

7. Identify and discuss:

Potential complications

Preventive measures

Contingency plans

Format and Style

The narrative portion should be 3-4 pages, double-spaced.

Use professional terminology

Include detailed reasoning for all technical decisions