Ten years of neonatal autopsies in tertiary referral centre: retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the neonatal autopsy rate at a tertiary referral centre and identify trends over the past decade. To identify factors that may influence the likelihood of consent being given for autopsy. To examine any discordance between diagnoses before death and at autopsy.


METHODS
Retrospective review of patients' records.


METHODS
Tertiary neonatal referral centre affiliated to university.


METHODS
Sex, gestational age, birth weight, type of delivery, and length of stay in neonatal unit for baby. Maternal age, marital status, history of previous pregnancies, and details of who requested permission for autopsy. Concordance between diagnoses before death and at autopsy.


RESULTS
An autopsy was performed in 209/314 (67%) cases. New information was obtained in 50 (26%) autopsies. In six (3%) cases this information was crucial for future counselling. In 145 (74%) there was complete concordance between the clinical cause of death and the findings at autopsy. From 1994 onwards the autopsy rate in the neonatal unit fell. The only significant factor associated with consent for autopsy was increased gestational age.


CONCLUSIONS
Important extra information can be gained at neonatal autopsies. This should help parents to make an informed decision when they are asked to give permission for their baby to have an autopsy. These findings are of particular relevance in view of the recent negative publicity surrounding neonatal autopsies and the general decline in the neonatal autopsy rate over the decade studied.
Brodlie
Malcolm
M
Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh EH9 1LW.
Laing
Ian A
IA
Keeling
Jean W
JW
McKenzie
Kathryn J
KJ
D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D007258:Informed Consent; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology