Post Mortem Care

ARIEL B. BAYRON,RN
 Description
All deceased children are treated w/ respect
while being provided end-of-life care

Family members are allowed to participate

in the activities to complete end-of-life care
needs

Religious practices, cultural rituals, and any

other request are taken into consideration.
RN/LPN/HCP is responsible for ensuring
that all aspects of post mortem care are
completed.
 PURPOSE
To clean and prepare the patients body
before it is transported to the morgue
 ASSESSMENT
1. Verify that patient has been pronounced
dead by the physician.
2. Identify cadaver, and collect his/her
belongings for labeling.
 PLANNING
1. Collect necessary equipment:
a. Bathing supplies
b. Shroud or morgue bag
c. 3 identification tag
d. Roll of gauze
e. Paper/plastic bag for personal
belongings
f. Morgue cart
If there are visitors in the room, carefully
explain the situation and ask them to
temporarily leave the room if possible.

Follow the hospital procedure regarding the

notification of various dept. and personnel.
 Time Since Death & Body
Condition
Time Since Death Body Condition
Less than 1 hr Body warm
3 hrs Patchy post-mortem lividity
6-8 hrs Lividity fully developed & fix
12 hrs • Rigor present all over
• Green patches over Caecum

24-36 hrs • Body cold and rigor recceds

• Ova of flies seen
• Green discolouration – adbo, chest
• Abdo distend with gas
48 hrs • Trunk bloated
• Face decolouration
• Swollen blister present
• Moving maggots seen
 Time Since Death & Body
Condition
Time Since Death Body Condition
72 hrs • Whole body discoloured
• Hair and nail loss
• Tissue soft and discolourised
1 week Soft viscera putrefied
2 weeks Only the more resistant viscera
distinguishable
1-3 months Body is skeletonized
RIGOR MORTIS
LIVOR MORTIS
ALGOR MORTIS
 IMPLEMENTATION
1. Maintain proper alignment of body. Raise
the head of the bed slightly.
2. IF possible, place dentures in the mouth
3. Remove any external obj causing
pressure or injury to the skin
4. Following hospital policy, remove, cut or
secure any tubes, drains or monitoring
lines
5. Following hospital policy, secure or
replace dressings.
6. Cleans the body as needed.
7. Close the eyes
8. If the family is to visit the deceased,
provide clean linen and gown to pt.
9.Prepare the equipment used for cleansing
10. ID tags-toe,wrist and morgue bag
SALAMAT !!!