Value of the necropsy in perioperative deaths. Issue 3 (March 1990)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shanks, J H; McCluggage, G; Anderson, N H; Toner, P G
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 43:Issue 3(1990)
• Page Start: 193
• Page End: 195
• Publication Date: 1990-03
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.43.3.193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : A series of 213 perioperative deaths was studied out of a total of 1451 consecutive necropsies carried out over three years. Discrepancies between the clinical and the necropsy diagnosis were assessed under four classes of discrepant diagnosis: class I, patient survival affected, treatable; class II, patient survival affected but not treatable; class III, correlated to cause of death but treatable; and class IV, incidental diagnosis which could not have been made before death. Major discrepancies of classes I and II were found in 44 (21%) and 62 (29%) cases, respectively. Minor discrepancies of classes III and IV were found in 63 (30%) and 101 (47%) cases, respectively. No discrepancies were found in 50 (23.5%) cases. These results confirm the continuing value of the necropsy in the assessment of perioperative deaths.