What is the term for the escape of blood serum from intravascular to extravascular locations immediately before death?

The escape of blood serum from intravascular to extravascular locations immediately before death is referred to as agonal edema. This phenomenon occurs as the body approaches the dying process, where the vascular permeability is altered due to various factors such as tissue hypoxia or the failure of homeostatic processes.

During this time, fluid balance shifts, leading to an accumulation of serum in the surrounding tissues, which is termed agonal edema. It is significant in forensic and embalming contexts because it can affect the appearance of the body and influence embalming practices. Understanding agonal edema is crucial for mortuary science professionals as they prepare the body for viewing, ensuring that they address the effects of this fluid accumulation appropriately.

In contrast, postmortem edema occurs after death as a result of decompositional fluids, and thus is not related to the events occurring immediately before death. Extravascular fluid accumulation is a more general term and does not specifically refer to the changes associated with the dying process. Blood serum leakage may be an informal description but lacks the specificity and clinical relevance of agonal edema.