In a significant move, a digital radiological unit has been set up at the AIIMS mortuary that will allow doctors to conduct virtual autopsies with the help of high-tech digital X-rays. This is so far first such feat in the Asia.
The advanced technology will also help in identifying the minutest clots and fractures which are difficult to spot. The best part about this cutting edge technology is that it is less time consuming. The technology will be most beneficial in cases where only skeletal remains are recovered.
“The virtual autopsies are less time consuming as compared to the traditional postmortem and are minimally invasive allowing the body to be released for cremation or burial sooner,” said Dr Sudhir Gupta, head of the AIIMS forensic department.
As per Dr Gupta, it is extremely helpful in cases of decomposed corpse as it is hard to find injuries by traditional post mortem examination.
“The radiological examination can detect fractures and blood clots invisible to the naked eye. Often there are concealed fractures and injuries which are difficult to spot. With the help of virtual autopsy, even smaller fractures like hairline or chip fracture in bones along with bleeding which are signs of ante-mortem injuries can be detected and they can be also documented in the form of X ray films,” added Dr Gupta.
