Forensic-medical examination of cases that died as a result of electric shock at the Council of Forensic Medicine, Van Regional Office

Year 2023, Volume: 37 Issue: 3, 115 - 121, 18.12.2023

Abdullah Benna Sarın

https://doi.org/10.61970/adlitip.1323118

Abstract

Objective: Despite improvements in product safety, injuries due to electric shock are an important cause of mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study, examine the sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, scene of the crime, electrical input-output wound characteristics and the pathological effects of electric shock on the body of the cases who underwent autopsy as a result of electrical injury.

Materials and Methods: A total of 2574 autopsies performed at the Council of Forensic Medicine, Van Regional Office between January 1, 2015 and July 1, 2022 were examined. Fifteen cases exposed to electric current were identified. The files of these cases were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: It was determined that 0.58% of medicolegal autopsies as a result of elektrocute. 73.3% of the cases were male, 26.7% were female, and the mean age was 28.27. All cases were accidental deaths, of which 53.3% occured in home and 46.7% occured in work. 80% of the injuries were low voltage injuries and 20% were high voltage injuries. Most deaths occurred during the summer season. While fluid conductivity was not observed in work accidents, it was found to be effective in 37.5% of home accidents. The most frequent deaths of places were the construction site, the house and its annexes. Electric shock was most commonly caused by electrical wires, cables and electrical appliances. Electric entry wound was detected in 80% of the cases, and exit wound in 26.7%. These wounds were accompanied by skin burns and general body trauma findings with a frequency that could not be ignored.

Discussion and Conclusion: In electric shocks almost entirely of accident origin; crime scene investigation detailed configuration should be delivered to the autopsy specialist immediately. The risk of electric shock should be kept in mind in the autopsy procedure for deaths occurring as a result of home and work accidents.

Keywords

electrical injury, crime scene, home accident, work accident, medicolegal autopsy

Van Adli Tıp Grup Başkanlığı’nda Elektrik Çarpması Sonucu Ölen Olguların Adli- Tıbbi İncelemesi

Abstract

Amaç: Ürün güvenliğinde iyileşmeler olmasına rağmen, elektrik çarpmasına bağlı yaralanmalar mortalite ve morbiditelerin önemli bir nedenidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, elektrik yaralanması sonucu otopsi yapılan olguların sosyodemografik verileri, klinik özellikleri, olay yeri, elektrik giriş-çıkış yara özellikleri ve elektrik çarpmasının vücut üzerindeki patolojik etkilerinin incelenmesidir.

Materyal ve Metod: Van Adli Tıp Grup Başkanlığı’nda 1 Ocak 2015-1 Temmuz 2022 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilen toplam 2574 otopsi incelendi. Elektrik akımına maruz kalan 15 olgu tespit edildi. Bu olguların dosyaları retrospektif olarak incelendi.

Bulgular: Yapılan medikolegal otopsilerin %0.58’inin elektrik yaralanması sonucu öldüğü belirlendi. Olguların %73.3’ü erkek, %26.7’si kadın, yaş ortalaması 28.27 idi. Orijin tüm olgularda kaza olup %53.3’ü ev kazası, %46.7’si iş kazasıydı. Yaralanmaların %80’i düşük voltaj, %20’si yüksek voltaj yaralanmasıydı. Ölümler en sık yaz mevsiminde gerçekleşmişti. Sıvı iletkenliği iş kazalarında görülmezken ev kazalarının %37.5’inde etkili olduğu tespit edildi. Ölümlerin en sık inşaat alanı, ev ve ekleri olduğu belirlendi. Elektrik çarpmasına en sık elektrik teli, kablo ve elektrikli ev aletleri neden olmuştu. Olguların %80’inde elektrik giriş yarası, %26.7’sinde çıkış yarası tespit edilmişti. Bu yaralara ciltte yanık ve genel beden travması bulgularının göz ardı edilmeyecek sıklıkta eşlik ettiği belirlendi.

Tartışma ve Sonuç: Tamamına yakını kaza orijinli olan elektrik çarpmalarında; olay yeri incelemesi ayrıntılı yapılarak otopsi uzmanına ivedilikle ulaştırılmalıdır. Ev ve iş kazaları sonucu meydana gelen ölüm olgularına yapılacak otopsi işleminde elektrik yaralanması ihtimali akılda bulundurulmalıdır.

Keywords

elektrik yaralanması, olay yeri, ev kazası, iş kazası, medikolegal otopsi

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