title: Postmortem biopsy to obtain lung tissue in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The accrual of human tissues from autopsies for diagnostic and translational research has decreased significantly over the last decades.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate our experience with lung biopsy through a minithoracotomy as an alternative for obtaining postmortem tissue when full autopsy is refused in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within 2 h of death we routinely asked parents for permission to perform an autopsy. Starting in 2001, parents who refused autopsy were asked permission for a postmortem lung biopsy. Pathology autopsy and biopsy reports were compared to clinical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2001 and 2009, 46 patients died from CDH. Permission for autopsy was granted in 5 patients (11%). Of the remaining 41 patients, the parents of 15 (33%) agreed to postmortem lung biopsy. In all cases, additional findings were reported from the autopsy or biopsy, without changing the originally reported cause of death. In 1 case, we isolated fibroblasts from the lung biopsy using standardized cell culture techniques. Parents were able to take their child home with a minimal delay following biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents refusing a full autopsy frequently agree to postmortem organ biopsy. This approach should therefore be considered as a valuable alternative, when permission for full autopsy is declined, for obtaining human tissues for both diagnostic and research purposes and is potentially applicable to other anomalies.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: R B
authors: RB
authors: Van Loenhout
authors: R R
authors: RR
authors: De Krijger
authors: C P
authors: CP
authors: Van de Ven
authors: I W J M
authors: IW
authors: Van der Horst
authors: L W J E
authors: LW
authors: Beurskens
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Tibboel
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Keijzer
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D001706:Biopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D020458:Third-Party Consent; D013908:Thoracotomy