title: [Autopsy in peri- and neonatology--an essential step in quality control. Data on autopsy frequency in Saxony].
abstract: In the framework of a general quality assurance compaign the working group for peri- and neonatology at the General Medical Council of Saxony has investigated the frequency, conclusiveness and development of autopsies in Saxony between 1992 and 1997/98. There were observable different autopsy rates depending on the degree of neonate maturity. Thus, the autopsy rate of stillbirths having birth weights from 500 to 999 g amounted to 79.7%, and that of stillbirths above 1000 g birth weight to only 59.4%. The abduction rate of neonates dying before day 7 of life was 65.7%. It is remarkable that the abduction rates declines from 79.1 to 62.9% in all weight classes of premature and full-term neonates from 1992 to 1997. The possible reasons for the decline of autopsies and the problems emerging for quality assurance are discussed.
authors.affiliation: AG Perinatologie/Neonatologie-Qualitätssicherung bei der Sächsischen Landesärztekammer, Dresden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bellée
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goertchen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tiller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grunow
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000473:pathology*; D005858:Germany; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*