IMPACT OF MEDICAL AUTOPSY ON FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Medical Autopsy on Final Diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: To determine the difference between diagnosis & misdiagnosis after medical autopsy.
Study Design: Prospective study.
Place and Duration of Study: Histopathology Dept Army Medical College Rawalpindi & Military Hospital (MH) Rawalpindi from Jan 2009 to May 2012.
Material and Methods: A retrospective cross sectional descriptive study of medical autopsies was conducted on patients at Histopathology Department Army Medical College & MH Rawalpindi who expired at or was brought in dead at MH Rawalpindi during a 41 months period between January 2009 to May 2012. Permission from the ethical committee was obtained for the study. Autopsy for medical purpose was performed on the deceased after receiving written consent from the next of kin. Medical autopsies were performed to determine & find the medical cause of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present. Total of 72 medical autopsies were conducted during the above period. All these consecutive autopsies were included in the study. Ratio of total autopsies done was 0.17% of total hospital deaths at MH Rawalpindi in the duration
of study. All subjects were male, military persons, aged between 19 & 50 years. Mean age was 35.5 years. Data was analyzed in excel. Descriptive statistics was applied on qualitative variables. Frequency and parentages was used.
Results: Ante mortem diagnosis confirmed as correct on total of 25/72 Autopsies. Clinically missed / wrong diagnosis was found on 47/72 autopsies.
Conclusion: Medical autopsy even today in the environment of a tertiary care hospital has irrefutable contribution in establishing final diagnosis & determining errors & omissions. Consequently it has pivotal role in continued improvement in medical care & in study of evolving disease patterns in real time.