Blood Spatter Research Articles

An automated method for the generation of bloodstain pattern metrics from images of blood spatter patterns

An improved automated bloodstain pattern analysis method has been developed and validated, which utilises computer vision techniques to identify bloodstains on a plain background within a digital image. The method generates metrics relating to the individual stains as well as the overall pattern, including bloodstain pattern specific metrics such as the gamma angle, circularity, solidity, area of convergence, stain density and pattern linearity. This method provides an objective approach to the analysis of bloodstains and bloodstain patterns and can generate a wealth of quantitative data that is currently not obtainable using manual techniques or other image-based programs currently utilised in the discipline. This method will be useful to analysts and researchers investigating the application of quantitative methods to bloodstain pattern analysis.

Cytomegalovirus pneumonia with intermittent pulmonary hemorrhage leading to asphyxia death: a case report and literature review

Neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage is a late manifestation of various diseases. Premature delivery and low body weight are frequently observed as high-risk factors, characterized by acute onset, rapid progression, and high mortality rates. Pulmonary hemorrhage caused by cytomegalovirus infection in newborns with normal immune function is a rare occurrence. This case report focuses on a term neonate with normal birth weight who presented solely with nasal obstruction shortly after birth. However, 4 days after birth, the newborn experienced a sudden onset of blood gushing from both the mouth and nasal cavity. The patient was diagnosed with gastrointestinal bleeding, neonatal pneumonia and neonatal lung consolidation. And he was discharged after ten days of symptomatic treatment. However, upon returning home, the patient experienced a sudden onset of bleeding from the mouth and nose, leading to his untimely demise. Subsequent autopsy revealed the presence of pulmonary hemorrhage in newborn, which presented as interstitial pneumonia. The cause of pulmonary hemorrhage is cytomegalovirus infection. This case emphasizes the importance of pediatricians enhancing their skills in differentiating pulmonary hemorrhage, especially from cytomegalovirus pneumonia.

Criminalistics and Crime Scene Investigation in Microgravity Space

Addresses the challenges and considerations of criminalistics and crime scene investigation in extraterrestrial gravitational environments. Future space exploration may require the development of protocols for extraterrestrial crime scene investigations. Challenges in microgravity effects, confined space environments, forensic techniques, communication, coordination, and legal jurisdiction are highlighted in this brief. Microgravity effects create difficulties in dis-placing evidence, such as blood spatter patterns, which make interpretation of events difficult. Restricted areas such as spacecraft and stations require special techniques and equipment. Storing and securing evidence in microgravity makes traditional methods impractical. The lack of gravity affects fingerprint development and preservation, requiring the use of alternative methods. Compact and specialized equipment is required to analyze DNA in space. Communication de-lays hinder real-time collaboration between researchers on Earth and those in space. Guidance can be provided to personnel in space with remote technologies and autonomous systems. Determining legal jurisdiction for crimes committed in space or on spacecraft requires complex international cooperation and agreements. The development of space law, technology and international agreements is important to meet the challenges of extraterrestrial crime scene investigations. Future discussions and research will provide a basis for establishing protocols for extraterrestrial crime scene investigations to ensure effective and fair forensic practices. As space exploration progresses, advances need to be made in these areas. As space exploration advances, the development of space law, technology, and international agreements is crucial to meeting the unique challenges of extraterrestrial crime scene investigations. This summary provides a basis for future discussions and research regarding the establishment of protocols to ensure effective and fair forensic practices off Earth.

UK national survey on surgical gowning for tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy is a common procedure performed nationally. The personal protective equipment and surgical gowning practices used during this procedure vary widely. We compiled a survey of ENT specialists to gain a national opinion about gowning in tonsillectomy with the aim of determining whether we could make it more environmentally friendly whilst maintaining the highest safety standards. We developed a nine-question survey that was piloted prior to final implementation. The questionnaire was sent to senior registrars and consultant otolaryngologists in the UK. The survey was completed by a total of 63 ENT specialists. It was found that 82.54 per cent of clinicians would consider wearing a reusable gown that would be sterilised between each procedure. Our survey suggests most ENT clinicians would consider using a more environmentally friendly surgical gown and some may even consider wearing no gown at all, although many are understandably concerned about the transmission of infection or blood splatter.

Applications of fluid dynamics and mechanics of continua in forensics

Here, an overview is given of a collection of works published by Physics of Fluids under an umbrella-title Flow and Forensics. These works span the two fields, which currently coexist without too much interaction, namely, fluid mechanics and forensic science. Nevertheless, both fields reveal mutual interest for quite some time. The present work demonstrates that not only a tangential interaction, but a wide mutual polymer-like reptation might be beneficial for both fields. The present set of works already demonstrates that sub-fields of fluid mechanics, such as multi-phase flows, gas dynamics, and rheology, fluid mechanical topics, such as drops and vortices, and tools, such as de Laval nozzle, are not alien at all to forensic science subjects and could be beneficial for them. In its turn, forensic science can enrich fluid mechanics by such subjects as blood pattern analysis, blood and brain spatter analysis, prediction of the blood spatter origin, and delineation of a staged suicide (a homicide) from a real one.

Inside Back Cover

Uncontrollable bleeding is like the collapse of heaven for patients, with blood gushing out uncontrollably. Researchers have developed bioactive hydrogels with procoagulant properties to achieve bleeding control as a "heavenly stone" for the defect. These hydrogels can effectively assist in stopping bleeding by activating the coagulation cascade reaction and hold promising prospects for clinical applications as hemostatic materials. More details are given in the article by Mao et al. on page 87—103.image

Effect of muzzle gas on forward blood spatter from a gunshot: Experiments with a supersonic de Laval nozzle

For bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA), interpreting statistically reliable data on a crime scene resulting from gunshots is a great challenge. This is due to various uncertainties, including blood rheology, hematocrit, coagulation, surrounding atmospheric conditions, victim's peculiarities, gun types, geometries, etc. In addition, muzzle (propellant) gases that follow the bullet may influence the aerodynamics of blood spatter in the cases of short-range shooting. We studied the muzzle gas effect on forward blood spatter. Muzzle gas can penetrate the wound channel and be ejected from the bullet exit hole affecting the forward blood spatter. Experiments with blood atomization by a gas flow issued from a supersonic de Laval converging–diverging nozzle are conducted. Defibrinated sheep blood was enclosed in a thin solid cylinder, which was filled by a supersonic air flow ejected from a de Laval nozzle, mimicking the muzzle gas flow through a wound channel. The mass flow rate of the supersonic air stream was varied by controlling the upstream chamber pressure. It was found that the number counts of the forward blood spatter from the muzzle gas blasting peaked at relatively shorter distances from the exit hole compared to the one that would be caused by a bullet. The effects of the muzzle gas and bullet could cause the formation of a bimodal spatter distribution on the floor behind the exit hole. These findings imply that atomization events owing to muzzle gas cause coarser atomization than that of a bullet, which could facilitate BPA in distinguishing certain homicides from staged suicides.

284 Eye Protection Compliance in the Operating Theatres of a Regional Major Trauma Centre

Abstract Aim Surgical procedures inherently involve risk of blood splatter. Various studies have consistently demonstrated significant (>40%) contamination of face masks worn by surgeons, though this may be macroscopically visible in fewer than half of cases; laparoscopic surgery is similarly not devoid of risk, with a comparable contamination profile. Nevertheless, routine use of eye protection by scrubbed surgical staff is inconsistent. This study audited the use of eye-protection by scrubbed surgical staff in a Major Trauma Centre. Method Local Trust guidelines mandated scrubbed surgical staff to wear eye-protection (namely disposable visor-masks or plastic glasses, not including spectacles). Operations over an initial 6-week cycle were audited to determine the rate of eye-protection use by surgical staff. Following a presentation to theatre staff, a further audit cycle was completed to assess for improvement in guideline compliance. Results 98 operations were recorded in the first cycle, 39 of which were open procedures. Compliance rates were measured for different staff grades. Across all operations, 301 staff were scrubbed (183 surgeons). 52.2% of scrubbed staff (35% of surgeons) wore the requisite eye protection. Re-audit involved 88 operations, including 31 open procedures, with a total of 243 scrubbed staff (146 surgeons). A demonstrable increase in compliance occurred across all staff grades with a total compliance rate of 67.5% (49% of surgeons). Conclusions Conjunctival contamination presents significant risk to surgeons without adequate protection. The results of this study demonstrate the inadequacy of current protective practice; increasing awareness of the necessity for adequate eye protection is thus a clinical priority.

Viral hepatitis B and C as occupational diseases

Objective: to study the clinical and epidemiological features and medical and social aspects of viral hepatitis B and C in medical workers. Materials and methods: analysis of outpatient and inpatient records of medical workers with a diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis B, C, B + C, B + D of various stages and degrees of activity, registered at the Republican Center of Occupational Pathology of the Republic of Tatarstan and the consultative and diagnostic department of the Republican Infectious Clinical Hospital named after prof. A.F. Agafonov. An on-line sociological survey of medical workers and senior students of medical universities in Kazan was conducted using the Google form. Results: medical personnel whose work is associated with the provision of invasive medical interventions are at the highest risk of infection with blood-borne infections. All medical workers had a history of accidents - needle sticks, cuts, blood spatter. The development of liver cirrhosis and the presence of lethal outcomes in liver cirrhosis decompensation reflect the general problem of chronic hepatitis C - the lack of timely effective antiviral therapy, despite the detection of hepatitis viruses in medical workers in the early stages of infection during periodic medical examinations. Conclusions: in the structure of occupational morbidity among healthcare workers in Tatarstan, viral hepatitis makes up 16.7%. There is still a risk of viral hepatitis infection in MRs of any level of education and status, including students of medical universities during work practice, assistance on a volunteer basis. Vaccination/revaccination against viral hepatitis B is regulated by regulations and shown to all healthcare workers with viral hepatitis C.

A Fatal Suicidal Knife-Cuttings on the Neck-From an Evidence Based Forensic Pathologist’s Point of View

A 42-year-old male was found dead inside his small trunk lying on the right back seat in a pool of blood by his father. A large single-edged utility knife was discovered on right hand of the back car seat nearby. On his neck, there were four sharp hesitate incisional cuts and two hesitate incisional cuts on his left forearm. The forensic bloodstain pattern compatible with possible to hypothesize a carotid artery injury of high-pressure blood exiting from a severed artery. One of four hesitated incisions on hist neck was deep enough to sever right common carotid artery and internal jugular vein. Death was attributed to hemorrhagic shock following right carotid artery severed injury on the neck. A suicide note was found at home by his father and disclosed a combined couple and financial relationship issue. From an evidence-based forensic pathological viewpoint, at first, a clean, detailed visual observation of the cut wounds on his neck and right forearm was a key feature of differential diagnosis of cause of death. Local inspection of incised depth and damaged great blood vessels on his neck, associated with other self-inflicted wounds on his accessible parts of left forearm. The blood spatter marks analysis could determine the dynamic mechanism of bleeding to death. Based on combined circumstantial evidence, terminal individual behavior and police and legal investigation of motivation and personality, the manner of death whether in nature of suicide or homicide or not would be determined. Furthermore, a complete, integrated medicolegal investigation was the milestone of evidence-based forensic pathology to elucidate the fact of death in modern forensics. For understand the individual's background disease for tendency of suicide and/or influenced of alcohol or abuse drug could be confirmed by performed autopsy findings and toxicological analysis.

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S2599 Gastroduodenal Artery Aneurysm: When Endoscopy Is Not the Answer

Introduction: Gastroduodenal artery aneurysms (GDAAs) are rare with high mortality rate. We present a patient with massive gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding found to have gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm. Case Description/Methods: A 75-year-old woman with hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, and prior stroke presented with fatigue, nausea, and decreased appetite. Vital signs and physical exam were normal. Hemoglobin (Hgb) was 13.2 grams per deciliter (g/dl). Nine days later, she developed abdominal pain and melena. Vital signs and physical exam were normal, Hgb was 11.8 g/dl, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) was normal. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed duodenal ulcer with visible vessel, treated with epinephrine injection (epi) and hemoclips. Melena recurred eleven days later. Repeat EGD showed duodenal bleeding with poor visibility, prompting transfer to our hospital. EGD at our facility showed hemi-circumferential deep ulcer and arterial spurting in the distal duodenal bulb, treated with epi and hemoclips resulting in initial hemostasis but then continued bleeding (Figure 1A). She developed pulseless electrical activity arrest but was resuscitated. Mesenteric angiogram showed a 0.8 × 0.8 centimeter distal gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm with extravasation requiring embolization with 2-4 millimeter interlock coils (Figure 1B). There was no further bleeding and she was discharged. Discussion: GDAAs account for 1.5% of visceral arterial aneurysms, which include true aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms (PAs). True aneurysms arise from vessel wall abnormalities such as degenerative or atherosclerotic processes, fibromuscular dysplasia, or collagen vascular diseases. PAs arise from vascular insults such as trauma, iatrogenic injury, or inflammation. The risk of GDAA PA rupture is as high as 75%. GDAAs may be asymptomatic or present as GI bleeding, abdominal pain, gastric outlet obstruction, or a pulsatile abdominal mass. CTA is the initial imaging of choice given high sensitivity, availability, and promptness. Mesenteric angiography is the diagnostic gold standard and allows for therapeutic intervention with endovascular embolization, which has superior outcomes compared to open surgical ligation. Follow-up imaging is necessary to look for aneurysm reperfusion, seen in 9-15% of cases. GDAA rupture is a difficult yet crucial diagnosis to make given mortality rate up to 21%.Figure 1.: A, Duodenal ulcer with actively spurting visible vessel. B, Mesenteric angiogram shows gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm with extravasation of contrast (black arrow).

S2631 The Unusual Suspect: Gastrointestinal Bleeding From an Ampullary Dieulafoy Lesion

Introduction: Dieulafoy lesions (DLs) are an unusual but important cause of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIBs), and can be difficult to diagnose. Three fourths are found in the stomach close to the gastroesophageal junction, but have also been reported in small bowel and colon. There are only a few reported cases of ampullary DLs. We present a rare case of a recurrent UGIB from an ampullary Dieulafoy lesion and its management. Case Description/Methods: A 65-year-old male presented for type B aortic dissection requiring endovascular repair, which was complicated by type 1 endoleak. His hospital course was complex owing to sepsis, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. Gastroenterology was consulted on day 16 for multiple tarry bowel movements. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed healing ulcers in lower esophagus. and non-bleeding ulcers in the duodenal bulb. The culprit lesion was an oozing Dieulafoy at the major papilla. Hemostasis was achieved with epinephrine injection and thermal therapy. Rebleeding occurred 5 days after the initial EGD leading to shock and cardiac arrest. Once the patient was hemodynamically stabilized, he underwent another EGD that showed copious fresh blood in stomach body as well as the second and third portions of duodenum. Active arterial spurting was noted from the superior aspect of major papilla. Given the severe hemodynamic compromise from this bleeding, we elected to clip the lesion this time, accepting the risk of pancreatitis and/or biliary obstruction. One endoclip was placed across the dorsal aspect of major papilla and closed. Persistent oozing was noted from under the clip which was arrested by applying a hot snare to the already placed endoclip and delivering thermal energy to the area pinched by the endoclip. Complete hemostasis was then achieved [Figure 1]. Liver function tests and lipase were monitored for a week and the patient did not develop pancreatitis or biliary obstruction despite placement of endoclip across the major papilla. Discussion: Ampullary DLs are extremely rare and can present a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to their anatomical location. There is currently no consensus on how to best treat ampullary DLs. Verification of the diagnosis and definitive treatment might require repeated examinations. Early and aggressive endoscopic treatment should be adopted when an ampullary DL is suspected, and patients should be closely followed up given therapeutic interventions can potentially impair biliary drainage.Figure 1.: Endoscopic images of bleeding from ampullary Dieulafoy lesion before and after endoscopic intervention.

Evaluation of digital panoramic images to support off-site bloodstain pattern analysis

ABSTRACT Crime scene photography plays a fundamental role in forensic investigations. Its primary purpose is the recording of the entire crime scene, both the context and specific details, for later recollection, analysis and presentation. Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) relies extensively on the recording of context and detail. This study evaluated the use of panoramic imaging for the recording of impact patterns at crime scenes to support the off-site determination of area of origin (AO). This evaluation used a commercially available hardware system that consisted of a robotized, tripod-mounted platform, interfaced with a digital camera, to provide an automated panoramic image capture process. Software was subsequently used to construct a digital panorama. Bloodstain pattern analysis software was then used for the off-site determination of AO from the panoramic image. The results of this research demonstrated that the developed method can be employed to effectively capture a panoramic image of an impact pattern with sufficient detail for accurate AO determination. The approach can enable crime scene officers to record impact patterns without extensive training on BPA or the recording of blood spatter. The approach also enables BPA experts to digitally analyse spatter information from a single image as opposed to evaluating multiple photographs.

Margin of Remnant

Margin of Remnant Meg Reynolds (bio) The nurse from the maternal care center callsto say my hormone levels are down. My bloodsays 5 hcg. I don't know what this meansexcept as a margin of remnant. Her call interruptsthe true crime podcast I was listening toon the walk to work. Trace evidence:a hair on a lapel, blood spatter,microscopic owl feathers or the concentratedstippling of gunpowder. dna nursessuch an urge toward decay, forensics has to hurryto preserve it. Soon, there will be no signthat I was pregnant at all. If my body were foundin the open dumpster behind the Shopping Bag,the autopsy would say, Female, 34, various injuries,found dusted with snow, but not pregnant.There's not even an itch of them left, nothingto protect or gentle into being. I can affordto be reckless. I go to the gym and run,increase the incline, sweat, letthe machine shake under me. [End Page 136] Meg Reynolds Meg Reynolds is a poet, artist, and teacher from New England. Her work has appeared in Mid-American Review, the Offing, RHINO, Indianapolis Review, Gigantic Sequins, and Exposition Review, among others. Her first collection of poetry comics, A Comic Year, was published in October 2021 with Finishing Line Press. Her second book, a collection of poems titled Does the Earth, was published by Harpoon Review Books in 2023. She lives in Burlington, Vermont with her family. Copyright © 2022 University of Nebraska Press

Automatic Classification of Bloodstains with Deep Learning Methods

The classification of detected bloodstains into predetermined categories is a crucial component of the so-called bloodstain pattern analysis. As in other forensic disciplines, deep learning methods may help to reduce human subjectivity within this process, may increase the classification accuracy, shorten the calculation time and thus, enable high-throughput analysis. In this work, an approach is presented in which a convolutional neural network (Inception v3) was trained from 965 drip stains (passive origin) and 1595 blood spatters (active origin). The trained CNN was evaluated with a test data set consisting of 366 images of drip stains and blood spatters. The success rate was 99.73% which suggests that neural networks could also be used to automatically classify other classes of bloodstain patterns to speed up the investigation process in the future.

LEAKING PSEUDOANEURYSM POST BRACHIOCEPHALIC AV FISTULA – A CASE REPORT

A 43 years old female patient with history of end stage renal disease who had undergone left brachiocephalic AV stula creation for maintainance hemodialysis presented to the casuality on postoperative day-20 (30/1/22) with spurting of blood from the stula site since that morning. Past history- patient was a known case of chronic kidney disease who was on maintainance hemodialysis (2 cycles /week) and had undergone left brachiocephalicAV stula creation on 10/1/22. On presentation this time with bleeding , her blood pressure was 80/50 mmhg, with pulse rate of 120 bpm. After immediate control of bleeding with tight bandage , patient was stabilized and was examined. Then the patient was shifted to the emergency operation theatre and the repair was done.

An unusual complex suicide involving a chainsaw and a hanging: a case report

BackgroundSuicides or suicidal attempts with power tools such as band or circular saws are rarely encountered in forensic medicine practice; in the forensic literature, only a few cases have been reported. We present the case of a “combined suicide” (self-injurious actions using different methods and involving various bodily sites) carried out with uncommon deadly methods: chainsaw and hanging.Case presentationA 58-year-old Caucasian man was found dead by his wife, hanging from the basement ceiling of the cellar in which he lived. During the investigation of the crime scene, external examination revealed a wide incised wound in the umbilical area showing the muscular and adipose tissues below. On inspection of the garden around the courtyard, the police found a chainsaw with blood spatter on both the blade and the handle. The blade appeared to be compatible with the abdominal injuries.ConclusionsSince the corpse presented this incised wound, it was crucial to establish the manner and the causes of death, as well as to exclude any third-party involvement. In this case, the presence of multiple injuries, potentially lethal, required a differential diagnosis between suicide or homicide. A detailed post-mortem examination, in association with a precise study of the circumstantial data, led the authors to assume that they were dealing with a “complex suicide.”

Forensic diagnostics of the range of rifled firearm calculated by back spatter over clothing

BackgroundNumerous studies have been conducted by using sophisticated methodologies for the deduction of range in cases of firearm injuries. However, the stark dearth of literature for similar purpose by just simple analysis of blood traces on items of clothing is astonishing. PurposeThis study was done to determine the relationship between range of a rifled firearm and blood traces on the clothing of victims in firearm injuries. MethodologySimulation experiments were performed by firing test shots in closed shooting range by using a Glock 17 pistol (9 mm luger) into pieces of clothing soaked with sheep blood. A total of 132 shots were fired. The morphologies and amount of blood spatter formed over a range varying from 5 cm to 100 cm (shooting angle-90°) were studied. ResultsAn inverse relationship was found to exist between morphology of blood traces produced on the target and the distance of the shot fired. The misting and micro-blood spatters were recorded at a range of 5–60 cm. The distance from which shots were fired carried significant impact on the appearance and density of the spray and the blood spatter. ConclusionsThe results provide a scientifically determined, statistically valid and simple equation formula in the most cost effective and easy manner for the deduction of range by mere examination of clothing in cases of firearm injuries. The requirements of the sacrifice of animals, and/or extrapolation of the results to humans by conducting experiments using hypothetical targets were also obviated in this study.