Cooling Kinetic Characteristics of Temperature Difference between Cadaver Temperature and Ambient Temperature

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study the cooling reaction kinetic characteristics of the temperature difference between cadaver temperature and ambient temperature （hereinafter referred to as “cadaver temperature difference”） according to the reaction kinetics method.MethodsThirty rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups with 6 rabbits in each group. The rabbits were injected with 10% potassium chloride solution intravenously. After death, the rabbits were placed at 5 ℃, 10 ℃, 15 ℃, 20 ℃ and 25 ℃ environment condition, respectively, and the rectal temperature was measured every minute for 20 hours. The measured cadaver temperature was subtracted from ambient temperature, and the cadaver temperature difference data was calculated using the reaction kinetics formula. The linear regression equation was fitted for analysis, and the experimental results were applied to the temperature difference data of human body after death for verification.ResultsUnder different environmental conditions, the linear coefficient determination of temperature difference -ln（C/C0） in rabbits was 0.99, showing a good linear relationship with time t. The application of human body temperature data after death was consistent with the results of animal experiments.ConclusionUnder stable conditions, the temperature difference cooling process after death in rabbits is a first-order kinetic response. The method can also be used to study the temperature difference in human body after death.

Keywords

• forensic pathology
• kinetics
• cadaver temperature
• ambient temperature
• cooling
• rabbits