ORGAN WEIGHT VARIATIONS IN CASES OF DROWNING IN FRESH WATER IN COMPARISION WITH NON-DROWNING DEATHS

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis of drowning as a cause of death still remains a challenge in forensic pathology due to scanty pathognomic signs. Traditional diagnostic methods have shown limitations, prompting interest and pursuit on alternative approaches. One such approach involves analysing the weight of internal organs, particularly the lungs and spleen, to provide additional supportive evidence. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the variations in organ weights in wet fresh water drowning cases compared to deaths due to other causes and assess the utility of the drowning index as a diagnostic tool. Methods: The study analyzed the findings in 245 cases,that were brought to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kozhikode for medico-legal autopsy. It included 83 cases of hanging, 71 cases of wet fresh water drowning and 91 cases of traumatic brain injury. Lung, spleen and other organ weights were measured using an electronic scale. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 18 with focus on comparative analysis across the different types. Results: The results showed a significant increase in weight of lungs and a decrease in spleen weight in persons who had died of drowning when compared to other causes of death. However, the drowning index, though elevated in drowning cases, did not consistently surpass the established diagnostic threshold, suggesting variability and potential limitations in its application as a reliable diagnostic marker. Conclusion: Variations in weights of lungs and spleen can provide valuable clues in the diagnosis of drowning, but their diagnostic utility as a stand alone criteria is limited to a certain extent by case-to-case variability. The drowning index demonstrates potential as a supplementary diagnostic tool but requires further validation through more extensive studies to improve its reliability and accuracy.