Histopathological changes in various organs in electrocution deaths

Abstract

Death due to electrical injuries are a major health concern and has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Electrocution death is defined as that occurring due to passage of electric current inside the body and is obviously a form of unnatural death. ¹ The cause includes ventricular fibrillation, paralysis of respiratory muscles and the central respiratory centre. ⁴ The amount of current that passes through the body ² and the point of contact are the main factors that determine the extent of injury. ³ The morphological changes observed in electrocution deaths are still not clear and this often leads to a ‘negative’ autopsy, especially when there is lack of circumstantial evidence. We discuss two cases of electrocution death and various histopathological changes observed in visceral organs including heart and skin. A brief literature review is added.