Clinical autopsy: a useful tool in the emergency department of teaching hospitals

Medicina clínica
María L IglesiasFrancesc Alameda

Abstract

We aimed to know the usefulness of clinical autopsy at the medical room of an emergency department in a teaching hospital. Retrospective study of clinical autopsies performed in the emergency department of a teaching hospital between 1995 and 2000. We explored the correlation between clinical emergency and autopsy diagnosis. The number of deaths was 1,484 (0.9%) among 165,662 patients attended in the emergency medical room in the study period. Of 281 autopsies (18.9%), 227 (15.3%) were judicial. Only 54 clinical autopsies (3.6%) were included. Dyspnea and chest pain, the two more frequent guide symptoms, were in concordance with the two more prevalent initial clinical diagnoses: respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. 38.9% (21 cases) of autopsies agreed with the clinical diagnosis and 14.8% (8 cases) did not agree with it. 25.9% (14 cases) of autopsies were diagnostic since the clinical diagnosis, both initial and final, was unknown. Moreover, 14.8% (8 cases) autopsies were explanatory. Furthermore, 5.6% (3 cases) of autopsies were undetermined. With regard to the main cause of death, there were 9 (16.7%) cases of previously unknown neoplasms. The results of the present study confirm the need and usefulness of autopsy in pati...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Teresa CoronaJulio Sotelo
The American Journal of Medicine
A O SoubaniF A Khan
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
P N Cowen
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved