L12 – Post Mortem in Current Practice Flashcards

1
Q

What is the primary legal purpose of a death certificate?

A

It provides official legal evidence of death and records the cause, enabling proper registration and future legal processes.

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2
Q

Who is authorised to certify the cause of death in a hospital setting?

A

A registered medical practitioner who was in attendance during the patient’s final illness.

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3
Q

What is the difference between a death certificate and a certificate for the registration of death?

A

The death certificate records the cause of death, while the registration certificate is used to formally register the death.

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4
Q

Why are death certificates crucial for public health?

A

They form the basis of mortality statistics, informing public health policies and resource allocation.

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5
Q

What types of death certificates are used based on age and circumstances?

A

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, Neonatal Death Certificate, and Certificate of Stillbirth.

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6
Q

What is the purpose of a Neonatal Death Certificate?

A

It is used to certify deaths of live-born infants within the first 28 days of life.

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7
Q

How does a Certificate of Stillbirth differ from other death certificates?

A

It is used for infants that did not breathe or show signs of life after expulsion, typically after 24 weeks of gestation.

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8
Q

What is the primary aim of performing a post mortem examination?

A

To determine the precise cause of death and provide information for clinical audit, research, and family counselling.

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9
Q

What is perinatal pathology?

A

It is the study of fetal, neonatal, and infant deaths to understand their causes and mechanisms.

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10
Q

How can high-quality perinatal autopsies benefit bereaved families?

A

They offer answers regarding the cause of death, helping families gain closure and plan for future pregnancies.

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11
Q

What is the UK perinatal mortality rate mentioned in the presentation?

A

Approximately 7.4 per 1000 deliveries.

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12
Q

How many perinatal deaths occur annually in the UK, as cited in the presentation?

A

Approximately 5340 deaths per year.

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13
Q

What are common clinical indications for performing a perinatal post mortem?

A

Indications include unexplained fetal loss, termination for fetal abnormality, hydrops fetalis, and suspected intrauterine infection.

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14
Q

What external measurements are crucial during a perinatal autopsy?

A

Body weight, head circumference, crown-heel and crown-rump lengths, and foot length.

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15
Q

Why is the assessment of maceration important in a perinatal autopsy?

A

It indicates the interval between fetal death and delivery, helping to determine the timing of death.

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16
Q

What is the significance of documenting dysmorphic features in a perinatal autopsy?

A

It aids in the detection of congenital abnormalities or syndromes that may explain the death.

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17
Q
A
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18
Q

Which special investigations may be undertaken during a perinatal autopsy?

A

These include X-rays, bacteriology, virology, karyotyping, and biochemical analyses.

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19
Q

What role does placental examination play in perinatal autopsy?

A

It evaluates the placenta’s size, shape, weight, cord insertion, and membrane integrity, which are vital for understanding fetal conditions.

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20
Q

What information does the placenta provide about maternal and fetal health?

A

It reflects the exchange between maternal and foetal circulations and can indicate conditions such as pre-eclampsia or infection.

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21
Q

What are common obstetric events leading to perinatal death?

A

Spontaneous preterm delivery, hypertensive disorders, and complications related to prematurity.

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22
Q

How is intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) linked to perinatal death?

A

IUGR indicates insufficient fetal growth, often due to placental insufficiency, and increases the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death.

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23
Q

What chromosomal disorders are most frequently associated with perinatal loss?

A

Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, triploidy, and Turner’s syndrome.

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24
Q

How does maternal diabetes influence perinatal outcomes?

A

It increases the risk of macrosomia, congenital malformations, and subsequent perinatal death.

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25
Q

What are common findings in pre-eclampsia related to perinatal death?

A

Pre-eclampsia is associated with intrauterine growth restriction and placental pathology such as infarcts.

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26
Q

Which neural tube defect is frequently detected during perinatal autopsy?

A

Spina bifida is a common neural tube defect identifiable on autopsy.

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27
Q

What does anencephaly indicate in a perinatal examination?

A

It is the absence of a major portion of the brain and skull, representing a severe neural tube defect.

28
Q

What is hydrops fetalis, and what does it signify?

A

Hydrops fetalis is the generalized oedema of the foetus, often indicating severe anaemia or cardiac failure.

29
Q

How is oligohydramnios manifested in perinatal pathology?

A

It is characterised by reduced amniotic fluid volume and can be associated with Potter facies and other physical abnormalities.

30
Q

What is the importance of X-ray imaging in perinatal autopsy?

A

X-rays help identify skeletal dysplasias and malformations that may not be evident on gross examination.

31
Q

What is the role of biochemical investigations in perinatal autopsy?

A

They help identify metabolic or endocrine disturbances that could have contributed to the death.

32
Q

How is clinico-pathological correlation utilised in autopsy reporting?

A

It integrates clinical history, imaging, and pathological findings to establish a coherent cause of death.

33
Q

Why is accurate death certification critical for health surveillance?

A

It ensures that mortality data are precise, supporting public health research and resource allocation.

34
Q

What is the overarching goal of performing a post mortem examination?

A

To determine the cause of death with high accuracy, offer closure to families, and contribute to medical knowledge.

35
Q

What is the primary legal purpose of a death certificate?

A

It provides official legal evidence of death and records the cause, enabling proper registration and future legal processes.

36
Q

Who is authorised to certify the cause of death in a hospital setting?

A

A registered medical practitioner who was in attendance during the patient’s final illness.

37
Q

What is the difference between a death certificate and a certificate for the registration of death?

A

The death certificate records the cause of death, while the registration certificate is used to formally register the death.

38
Q

Why are death certificates crucial for public health?

A

They form the basis of mortality statistics, informing public health policies and resource allocation.

39
Q

What types of death certificates are used based on age and circumstances?

A

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, Neonatal Death Certificate, and Certificate of Stillbirth.

40
Q

What is the purpose of a Neonatal Death Certificate?

A

It is used to certify deaths of live-born infants within the first 28 days of life.

41
Q

How does a Certificate of Stillbirth differ from other death certificates?

A

It is used for infants that did not breathe or show signs of life after expulsion, typically after 24 weeks of gestation.

42
Q

What is the primary aim of performing a post mortem examination?

A

To determine the precise cause of death and provide information for clinical audit, research, and family counselling.

43
Q

What is perinatal pathology?

A

It is the study of fetal, neonatal, and infant deaths to understand their causes and mechanisms.

44
Q

How can high-quality perinatal autopsies benefit bereaved families?

A

They offer answers regarding the cause of death, helping families gain closure and plan for future pregnancies.

45
Q

What is the UK perinatal mortality rate mentioned in the presentation?

A

Approximately 7.4 per 1000 deliveries.

46
Q

How many perinatal deaths occur annually in the UK, as cited in the presentation?

A

Approximately 5340 deaths per year.

47
Q

What are common clinical indications for performing a perinatal post mortem?

A

Indications include unexplained fetal loss, termination for fetal abnormality, hydrops fetalis, and suspected intrauterine infection.

48
Q

What external measurements are crucial during a perinatal autopsy?

A

Body weight, head circumference, crown-heel and crown-rump lengths, and foot length.

49
Q

Why is the assessment of maceration important in a perinatal autopsy?

A

It indicates the interval between fetal death and delivery, helping to determine the timing of death.

50
Q

What is the significance of documenting dysmorphic features in a perinatal autopsy?

A

It aids in the detection of congenital abnormalities or syndromes that may explain the death.

51
Q

Which special investigations may be undertaken during a perinatal autopsy?

A

These include X-rays, bacteriology, virology, karyotyping, and biochemical analyses.

52
Q

What role does placental examination play in perinatal autopsy?

A

It evaluates the placenta’s size, shape, weight, cord insertion, and membrane integrity, which are vital for understanding fetal conditions.

53
Q

What information does the placenta provide about maternal and fetal health?

A

It reflects the exchange between maternal and foetal circulations and can indicate conditions such as pre-eclampsia or infection.

54
Q

What are common obstetric events leading to perinatal death?

A

Spontaneous preterm delivery, hypertensive disorders, and complications related to prematurity.

55
Q

How is intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) linked to perinatal death?

A

IUGR indicates insufficient fetal growth, often due to placental insufficiency, and increases the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death.

56
Q

What chromosomal disorders are most frequently associated with perinatal loss?

A

Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, triploidy, and Turner’s syndrome.

57
Q

How does maternal diabetes influence perinatal outcomes?

A

It increases the risk of macrosomia, congenital malformations, and subsequent perinatal death.

58
Q

What are common findings in pre-eclampsia related to perinatal death?

A

Pre-eclampsia is associated with intrauterine growth restriction and placental pathology such as infarcts.

59
Q

Which neural tube defect is frequently detected during perinatal autopsy?

A

Spina bifida is a common neural tube defect identifiable on autopsy.

60
Q

What does anencephaly indicate in a perinatal examination?

A

It is the absence of a major portion of the brain and skull, representing a severe neural tube defect.

61
Q

What is hydrops fetalis, and what does it signify?

A

Hydrops fetalis is the generalized oedema of the foetus, often indicating severe anaemia or cardiac failure.

62
Q

How is oligohydramnios manifested in perinatal pathology?

A

It is characterised by reduced amniotic fluid volume and can be associated with Potter facies and other physical abnormalities.

63
Q

What is the importance of X-ray imaging in perinatal autopsy?

A

X-rays help identify skeletal dysplasias and malformations that may not be evident on gross examination.

64
Q

What is the role of biochemical investigations in perinatal autopsy?

A

They help identify metabolic or endocrine disturbances that could have contributed to the death.

65
Q

How is clinico-pathological correlation utilised in autopsy reporting?

A

It integrates clinical history, imaging, and pathological findings to establish a coherent cause of death.

66
Q

Why is accurate death certification critical for health surveillance?

A

It ensures that mortality data are precise, supporting public health research and resource allocation.

67
Q

What is the overarching goal of performing a post mortem examination?

A

To determine the cause of death with high accuracy, offer closure to families, and contribute to medical knowledge.