Purge fluid is decomposition fluid that may exude from the oral and nasal passages as well as other body cavities (see the image below).
After someone has died, changes will happen to the body. These changes may be upsetting for people who aren't expecting them, but be reassured they are entirely normal. The body may release stool from the rectum, urine from the bladder, or saliva from the mouth. This happens as the body's muscles relax.
Phase 4: Putrefaction
It will usually occur 2-3 weeks after death. 3rd visible sign – purge of putrid bloodstained fluid from body orifices.
As the blood pools, patches appear on the skin within 30 minutes of death. About two to four hours postmortem, these patches join up, creating large dark purplish areas towards the bottom of the body and lightening the skin elsewhere. This may be less apparent on darker skin. This process is called livor mortis.
They are: to prevent fluid from draining out of the nose; respiration has stopped and air will enter the body thru the nasal openings and cause swelling; to prevent any germs from being released by decaying processes that may be taking place to the dead body; and lastly, to provide proper shape if necessary for viewing ...
The foam is actually saliva that has pooled in the mouth and throat because the person has lost the ability to swallow. As the patient breathes, the saliva mixes with the air and becomes foamy.
Black putrefaction (10-20 days after death) – exposed skin turns black, bloating collapses and fluids are released from the body. Butyric fermentation (20-50 days after death) – the remaining flesh is removed, butyric acid is formed "fermenting" the remains and the body begins to mold if in contact with the ground.
This stage is also one of reflection. The dying person often thinks back over their life and revisits old memories.4 They might also be going over the things they regret.
They Know They're Dying
Dying is a natural process that the body has to work at. Just as a woman in labor knows a baby is coming, a dying person may instinctively know death is near. Even if your loved one doesn't discuss their death, they most likely know it is coming.
Although death has historically been medically defined as the moment when the heart irreversibly stops beating, recent studies have suggested brain activity in many animals and humans can continue for seconds to hours.
After death, there is are no reflexes of the pupils to light and the cornea also loses its reflex. The cornea of the deceased also become cloudy after two hours of death. Besides that, the pressure in the eyes start to decrease and the eyeballs become flaccid before it they sink into the orbits of the eyes.
Here is a brief summary of the changes that happen in the body in the hours and days after death: One hour: Relaxation of muscles (primary flaccidity) starts right away, followed by the skin becoming pale. Two to six hours: Muscles begin to stiffen (rigor mortis)
Bone and skin cells can stay alive for several days. It takes around 12 hours for a human body to be cool to the touch and 24 hours to cool to the core. Rigor mortis commences after three hours and lasts until 36 hours after death.
Gasping is a brainstem reflex; it is the last respiratory pattern prior to terminal apnoea. Gasping is also referred to as agonal respiration and the name is appropriate because the gasping respirations appear uncomfortable, causing concern that the patient is dyspnoeic and in agony.
The human brain rapidly dissolves after death due to the break down of proteins and putrefaction. Decomposition often occurs within minutes after death, which is quicker than other body tissues, likely because the brain is about 80% water.
It is best to think of the decedent's belongings, paperwork, and assets as “frozen in time” on the date of death. No assets or belongings should be removed from their residence. Their vehicle(s) should not be driven. Nothing should be moved great distances, modified, or taken away.
If your loved one in hospice care becomes nonverbal and unresponsive, it's easy to believe the misconception that they can't hear you. A recent study, however, reveals that hearing is the last sense that remains for dying patients.
The first organ system to “close down” is the digestive system. Digestion is a lot of work! In the last few weeks, there is really no need to process food to build new cells. That energy needs to go elsewhere.
Physical signs
Facial muscles may relax and the jaw can drop. Skin can become very pale. Breathing can alternate between loud rasping breaths and quiet breathing. Towards the end, dying people will often only breathe periodically, with an intake of breath followed by no breath for several seconds.
Hospice has a program that says that no one should have to die alone, and yet this hospice nurse is telling me to take a break? Some patients want to die when no one else is there. Hospice professionals know that companionship while dying is a personal preference.
The pain is caused by the overwhelming amount of stress hormones being released during the grieving process. These effectively stun the muscles they contact. Stress hormones act on the body in a similar way to broken heart syndrome.
"When we imagine our emotions as we approach death, we think mostly of sadness and terror," says psychological scientist Kurt Gray of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "But it turns out, dying is less sad and terrifying – and happier – than you think."
Livor mortis, also known as postmortem hypostasis or postmortem lividity, is a passive process of blood accumulating within the blood vessels in the dependent parts of the body as a result of gravity, causing a discoloration of the skin that varies from pink to dark purplish.
Reduced or restricted blood flow can become very serious if cells and tissue begin to die. If there is little or no circulation to the feet you may notice feet turning black, especially in the elderly.
Eventually, during the Victorian era, black clothing during periods of mourning became common practice, with official rules brought in specifying how long black attire should be worn for. "After that, widows were regularly seen in black for one-two years after the death of their spouse," adds Field.