Clinical and autopsy correlation evaluated in a university hospital in Spain (1991-2000).
The authors present a 10-year retrospective study (1991-2000) of all autopsies performed at the Hospital Clinic, Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) studied by a multidisciplinary committee. The clinicopathologic correlation of the primary underlying disease with the immediate cause of death was reviewed. Between 1991 and 2000, 2,495 autopsies were performed, 1933 of which were evaluated by the committee. The autopsy rate fell from 20% in 1993 to 9.1% in 2000. The clinicopathologic correlation in underlying primary disease was correct in 92.67% of the cases; there was a major discrepancy in 3.51% and a minor discrepancy in 3.82%. As regards the immediate cause of death, major errors were found in 5.89% of cases and minor errors in 6.17%. Despite the scientific and technologic advances in medicine, we have seen that there are still clinicopathologic discrepancies. The postmortem examination continues to play an important role in auditing clinical practice and diagnostic performance, and also for educational purposes. Evaluation by a multidisciplinary committee is the more reliable system for the study of the clinicopathologic correlation.
Bombí
Josep Antoni
JA
Department of Pathology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona Medical School, Barcelona, Spain. bombi@medicina.ub.es
Ramírez
Josep
J
Solé
Manel
M
Grau
Josep Maria
JM
Chabas
Elena
E
Astudillo
Emiliano
E
Nicolás
José Maria
JM
Balasch
Juan
J
D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013030:Spain