Quality control in fatally injured patients: the value of the necropsy.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the contribution of necropsy results to the audit care of severely injured patients.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
University Hospital in The Netherlands.


METHODS
56 patients who died of severe trauma or its complications during the 10 year period, 1977 to 1987.


METHODS
Correlation between clinical and necropsy findings.


RESULTS
The clinical and necropsy findings corresponded in 31 patients (55%). The necropsy brought to light errors in diagnosis or treatment that might have affected survival in eight cases (14%). The most common missed diagnoses were bronchopneumonia and severe haemorrhage, and the most common cause of death was sepsis. Age, length of stay in hospital, and time between admission and operation were not correlated with accuracy of diagnosis or adequacy of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Necropsies in patients who die after severe injuries make a useful contribution to the audit of the care of patients admitted with such injuries.
Barendregt
W B
WB
Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
de Boer
H H
HH
Kubat
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002423:Cause of Death; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology; D011786:Quality Control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy