TY - JOUR
T1 - Gas dispersal potential of infant bedding of sudden death cases. (I)
T2 - CO2 accumulation around the face of infant mannequin model
AU - Sakai, Jun
AU - Takahashi, Shirushi
AU - Funayama, Masato
PY - 2009/4
Y1 - 2009/4
N2 - We assessed CO2 gas dispersal potential of bedding that had actually been used by 26 infants diagnosed with sudden unexpected infant death using a baby mannequin model. The age of victims ranged from 1 to 12 months. In some cases, the parents alleged that the infant faces were not covered with bedding when they were found. The parent's memories, however, may not have been accurate; therefore, we examined the potential for gas dispersal based on the supposition that the bedding had covered their faces. The mannequin was connected with a respirator set on the tidal volume and respiratory rates matched with the baby's age. Before measuring, CO2 flow was regulated in 5% ± 0.1% of end-tidal PCO2. After the model was placed on each bedding condition, measurements were performed at least five times under each respiratory condition. Four cases showed a plateau of FiCO2 <4.8%, 15 were 4.8-12%, and the other seven were 12% or more, when they reached a plateau. Of course, our model does not take large tissue stores of CO2 into account. However, our model could show the potential gas dispersal ability of bedding. Especially, the latter seven bedding could have high rebreathing potential if they covered the infant's faces and the probability of environmental asphyxia should be considered.
AB - We assessed CO2 gas dispersal potential of bedding that had actually been used by 26 infants diagnosed with sudden unexpected infant death using a baby mannequin model. The age of victims ranged from 1 to 12 months. In some cases, the parents alleged that the infant faces were not covered with bedding when they were found. The parent's memories, however, may not have been accurate; therefore, we examined the potential for gas dispersal based on the supposition that the bedding had covered their faces. The mannequin was connected with a respirator set on the tidal volume and respiratory rates matched with the baby's age. Before measuring, CO2 flow was regulated in 5% ± 0.1% of end-tidal PCO2. After the model was placed on each bedding condition, measurements were performed at least five times under each respiratory condition. Four cases showed a plateau of FiCO2 <4.8%, 15 were 4.8-12%, and the other seven were 12% or more, when they reached a plateau. Of course, our model does not take large tissue stores of CO2 into account. However, our model could show the potential gas dispersal ability of bedding. Especially, the latter seven bedding could have high rebreathing potential if they covered the infant's faces and the probability of environmental asphyxia should be considered.
KW - Bedding
KW - CO
KW - Sudden death in infancy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67349263018&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67349263018&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.02.038
DO - 10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.02.038
M3 - Article
C2 - 19375372
AN - SCOPUS:67349263018
VL - 11
SP - S404-S405
JO - Legal Medicine
JF - Legal Medicine
SN - 1344-6223
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -