Study Of Histopathological Changes in Fatal Poisoning in Vadodara Region of Gujarat

Background: The exact incidence of poisoning in India remains uncertain due to lack of concrete data and under reporting. The effects of different poisons on the various organs have not been studied in details. Aims & Objectives: The current study was designed to study the gross and histopathology changes in viscera of death due to poisoning and to know that weather specific poisoning can be diagnosed by examining these changes. Methods: The present study was carried out in forensic medicine and pathology departments, which are attached to tertiary health center of MS University Baroda. All the deaths with history of suspected poisoning and the cases which were diagnosed later as death due to poisoning by medico legal autopsy examination were included for this study. Results: Predominant findings are pulmonary edema with congestion was seen in 90.0% of cases followed by intrapulmonary hemorrhages in 14 (4.98%) cases. Stomach found congested & hemorrhagic in 89.3%, congested, hemorrhagic with ulceration in 0.3%, with perforation in 1.4% & congested in 7.8% of total 281 cases. Conclusion: The present study helps to interpret that changes in the organs in poisoning cases are not often easy to interpret and that they may be due to further presence of old/recent disease in the deceased that is unrelated to the cause of death. This also calls for intense research in the field with specific effects on the organs by particular poison. ?