Forensic significance of concentrations of ethanol in brain tissues following induced acute subdural hemorrhage

Abstract

The concentrations of ethanol in peripheral blood, subdural hematomas and various regions of the brain were determined 1, 2, 4, and 6 h after the induction of a hemorrhage into a subdural space in the right temple of rabbits. The concentrations were compared to cases of intravenous administration of ethanol-free i.v. fluid. Concentrations of ethanol in the subdural hematomas gradually decreased to correspond to those in the peripheral blood. The influence of an intravenous infusion of ethanol-free i.v. fluid was not observed. Concentrations in the brain of the right temporal, parietal and frontal lobes were high and those in the right temporal lobe were maintained during the 6 h of our experiment. Therefore, to determine if a human victim was under the influence of ethanol at the time of injury, we recommend that brain concentrations of ethanol be determined. This is apparently the first study to confirm that the estimation of ethanol in the brain provides a more accurate determination of how much ethanol had been ingested.