NEWER DEVELOPMENTS IN AUTOPSY EXAMINATION

Abstract

High quality data on the cause of death are important to help prioritize health policies. This is particularly relevant in low- and middle-income countries where the mortality burden is high, information is poor, and most deaths are preventable. Complete diagnostic autopsies (CDA) is considered as the gold standard in the performance of post mortem examinations worldwide. The procedure entails invasive analysis, structured recording of comorbidities for the identification of important pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms in organs. The data can provide information that may have implications for future therapeutic interventions. Many deaths occur outside the health system, bereft of even basic medical assistance, let alone postmortem evaluation that allows certification of death. Verbal autopsy is a structured interview administered to relatives of the deceased individual and serves as an alternative to overcome this problem in low- and middle-income countries. (1, 2) Social and religious considerations, age of the deceased, mutilation considerations, emotional and economic liabilities, preclude consent for autopsies. Healthcare professionals have the onerous task of convincing the next of kin of a deceased for the need for a post mortem examination and secure their informed consent. This delicate but essential task can pinpoint the cause of death and provide finality to the medical personnel and relatives. To overcome the issues concerned, it has become essential to render CDAs less invasive and comprehensive to secure widespread acceptability. ‘Virtopsy’ is set to become the newe alternative in thanatology. (3)