Results of the autopsy in Bahrami Children Hospital

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate the trend and clinical utility of the autopsy in Bahrami Children's Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In this retrospective descriptive-analytic survey during a six years course from 1998 to 2003, autopsies in the hospital were studied. The clinical and autopsy diagnoses were compared and categorized as follows: 1. Change (Clinical and Autopsy diagnoses discordant), 2. Add (Significant unexpected findings noted on the autopsy, although the clinical diagnosis was not altered), 3. Confirm (Clinical and Autopsy diagnoses concordant), 4. Autopsy inconclusive Findings: Eighty four autopsies were studied. Out of 350 neonatal deaths, autopsy was performed in 74 neonates (21%) and of 249 under 5 year deaths (except neonates) autopsy was performed in only 10 cases (4%). The autopsy rate declined during these years. In 61 cases (73%) the autopsy diagnoses confirmed the clinical diagnosis, in 10 cases (12%) it changed the clinical diagnoses, in 11 cases (13%) it significantly added to the clinical diagnoses and in 2 cases (2%) it was inconclusive.Conclusions: This study reveals a decline in neonatal and infant autopsy during a six year period. This study also demonstrates that neonatal and infant autopsy continues to provide clinically useful data in 25% of cases and remains a valuable tool in pediatric medicine