Diagnosis of drowning by summation of sodium, potassium and chloride ion levels in pleural effusion: Differentiating between freshwater and seawater drowning and application to bathtub deaths

Although electrolyte analysis of pleural effusion at autopsy is useful for the diagnosis of water aspiration (i.e., drowning), the method of comparing each level of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and chloride (Cl−) ions does not clearly differentiate between freshwater drowning, seawater drowning, and non-drowning. Therefore, here we introduce the summation of Na+, K+, and Cl− levels, that is SUMNa+K+Cl, as a modified diagnostic indicator. In 21 autopsy cases of freshwater drowning, 32 cases of seawater drowning, and 43 non-drowning controls (with pleural effusion), mean SUMNa+K+Cl differed significantly between the groups (188.8 ± 33.2, 403.5 ± 107.9, and 239.3 ± 21.7 mEq/L, respectively). We defined a SUMNa+K+Cl cut-off value of <195.9 mEq/L as strongly suggestive of freshwater aspiration and that of >282.7 mEq/L as strongly suggestive of seawater aspiration. When these values were applied to the two drowning groups, 15 cases (71%) of freshwater drowning and 29 cases (91%) of seawater drowning were diagnosed correctly. This new approach may be more valid than previous methods in cases found >2 days after death or those with substantial pleural effusion (>100 mL). For an additional 15 bathtub deaths, mean SUMNa+K+Cl was 198.8 ± 40.0 mEq/L, and in 14 of these cases (93%) the relationship between cause of death and SUMNa+K+Cl could be explained using this method. Forensic pathologists should not depend exclusively on chemical findings and should consider also typical pathological indicators of drowning. This new method may be useful as a supplementary diagnostic tool when used alongside consideration of the pathological findings.