Digestive Status of Stomach Contents as an Indicator of Time Since Death: An Autopsy Study of 120 Cases of Organophosphorus Compound Poisoning

Organophosphorus (OP) compound poisoning is a common cause of fatality worldwide, particularly in agricultural regions where these chemicals are widely used as pesticides. Accurate estimation of the time since death (TSD) in such cases is crucial for medico-legal and forensic investigations. Gastric emptying and the digestive status of stomach contents have long been recognized as potential indicators of TSD, yet limited data exist specifically in OP poisoning cases. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the digestive status of stomach contents and TSD in 120 autopsy cases of confirmed OP compound poisoning. Autopsies were conducted following standard forensic protocols, and detailed observations of the stomach contents were recorded. Gastric emptying was categorized into complete, partial, or no emptying, while the recognizability of food in the stomach was classified as recognizable, partially recognizable, or unrecognizable. Data were analyzed in relation to the interval between the last meal and the time of death, as well as demographic factors such as age and sex. The results revealed that complete gastric emptying occurred in 41.8% of cases, predominantly in individuals who had ingested their last meal more than 10 hours prior to death. Partial gastric emptying was observed in 53.7% of cases, most commonly when the last meal was consumed within 4–10 hours of death. Only 4.5% of cases exhibited no gastric emptying. Regarding the recognizability of stomach contents, 39.0% of cases retained recognizable food, particularly in deaths occurring within four hours of ingestion, while 61.0% showed unrecognizable or pulpy stomach contents, increasing with elapsed time since the last meal. Gender-based differences were also noted, with males more frequently displaying recognizable gastric contents compared to females. These findings suggest that both the degree of gastric emptying and the recognizability of stomach contents can serve as practical indicato