“Study of Burn Deaths with Special Reference to histopathology in India”

Introduction: Thermal burns and related injuries are major cause of death and disability. There are certain pathological changes such as lungs shows necrotising pneumonia,congestion of alveolar walls,capillary proliferation, intraalveolar oedema, giant epithelial cells. With this background in mind present study was planned to work out the histopathological examination of internal organs. Material & methods: The present study was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, during the period of 2 years from October 2006 to October 2008. Total 110 cases with burn injuries brought to the mortuary for autopsy used as material for study purpose and collection of tissues for histopathological examination. Observations & Results : Histopathological changes in lungs showed bronchopneumnia was seen in 22 (20%) cases, pulmonary oedema in 61(55.45%) cases, atelectasis in 16(14.54%), emphysema in 19(17.27%), interstitial haemorrhage in 42(38.18%) , intra alveolar haemorrhage in 39(35.45%),interstitial pneumonitis in 30(27.27%),macrophages in 51(46.36%), congestion in 81(73.63%),ha-emorrhagic necrosis in 5(4.54%). Histopathological changes in kidneys showed cloudy degeneration in 17(15.45%) cases, tubular casts in 35(31.81%),acute pyelonephritis in 10(9.09%),regeneration of epithelium in 15(13.63%) & acute tubular necrosis in18(16.36%). Conclusion: Our work ruled out importance of histopathological study in burn cases in India.