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Clinical Pathology in Action > L12 – Post Mortem in Current Practice > Flashcards

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?

A

Approximately 7.4 per 1000 deliveries.

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12
Q

How many perinatal deaths occur annually in the UK?

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
What are common findings in pre-eclampsia related to perinatal death?
Pre-eclampsia is associated with intrauterine growth restriction and placental pathology such as infarcts.
26
Which neural tube defect is frequently detected during perinatal autopsy?
Spina bifida is a common neural tube defect identifiable on autopsy.
27
What does anencephaly indicate in a perinatal examination?
It is the absence of a major portion of the brain and skull, representing a severe neural tube defect.
28
What is hydrops fetalis, and what does it signify?
Hydrops fetalis is the generalized oedema of the foetus, often indicating severe anaemia or cardiac failure.
29
How is oligohydramnios manifested in perinatal pathology?
It is characterised by reduced amniotic fluid volume and can be associated with Potter facies and other physical abnormalities.
30
What is the importance of X-ray imaging in perinatal autopsy?
X-rays help identify skeletal dysplasias and malformations that may not be evident on gross examination.
31
What is the role of biochemical investigations in perinatal autopsy?
They help identify metabolic or endocrine disturbances that could have contributed to the death.
32
How is clinico-pathological correlation utilised in autopsy reporting?
It integrates clinical history, imaging, and pathological findings to establish a coherent cause of death.
33
Why is accurate death certification critical for health surveillance?
It ensures that mortality data are precise, supporting public health research and resource allocation.
34
What is the overarching goal of performing a post mortem examination?
To determine the cause of death with high accuracy, offer closure to families, and contribute to medical knowledge.
35
What is the primary legal purpose of a death certificate?
It provides official legal evidence of death and records the cause, enabling proper registration and future legal processes.
36
Who is authorised to certify the cause of death in a hospital setting?
A registered medical practitioner who was in attendance during the patient’s final illness.
37
What is the difference between a death certificate and a certificate for the registration of death?
The death certificate records the cause of death, while the registration certificate is used to formally register the death.
38
Why are death certificates crucial for public health?
They form the basis of mortality statistics, informing public health policies and resource allocation.
39
What types of death certificates are used based on age and circumstances?
Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, Neonatal Death Certificate, and Certificate of Stillbirth.
40
What is the purpose of a Neonatal Death Certificate?
It is used to certify deaths of live-born infants within the first 28 days of life.
41
How does a Certificate of Stillbirth differ from other death certificates?
It is used for infants that did not breathe or show signs of life after expulsion, typically after 24 weeks of gestation.
42
What is the primary aim of performing a post mortem examination?
To determine the precise cause of death and provide information for clinical audit, research, and family counselling.
43
What is perinatal pathology?
It is the study of fetal, neonatal, and infant deaths to understand their causes and mechanisms.
44
How can high-quality perinatal autopsies benefit bereaved families?
They offer answers regarding the cause of death, helping families gain closure and plan for future pregnancies.
45
What is the UK perinatal mortality rate mentioned in the presentation?
Approximately 7.4 per 1000 deliveries.
46
How many perinatal deaths occur annually in the UK, as cited in the presentation?
Approximately 5340 deaths per year.
47
What are common clinical indications for performing a perinatal post mortem?
Indications include unexplained fetal loss, termination for fetal abnormality, hydrops fetalis, and suspected intrauterine infection.
48
What external measurements are crucial during a perinatal autopsy?
Body weight, head circumference, crown-heel and crown-rump lengths, and foot length.
49
Why is the assessment of maceration important in a perinatal autopsy?
It indicates the interval between fetal death and delivery, helping to determine the timing of death.
50
What is the significance of documenting dysmorphic features in a perinatal autopsy?
It aids in the detection of congenital abnormalities or syndromes that may explain the death.
51
Which special investigations may be undertaken during a perinatal autopsy?
These include X-rays, bacteriology, virology, karyotyping, and biochemical analyses.
52
What role does placental examination play in perinatal autopsy?
It evaluates the placenta’s size, shape, weight, cord insertion, and membrane integrity, which are vital for understanding fetal conditions.
53
What information does the placenta provide about maternal and fetal health?
It reflects the exchange between maternal and foetal circulations and can indicate conditions such as pre-eclampsia or infection.
54
What are common obstetric events leading to perinatal death?
Spontaneous preterm delivery, hypertensive disorders, and complications related to prematurity.
55
How is intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) linked to perinatal death?
IUGR indicates insufficient fetal growth, often due to placental insufficiency, and increases the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death.
56
What chromosomal disorders are most frequently associated with perinatal loss?
Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, triploidy, and Turner’s syndrome.
57
How does maternal diabetes influence perinatal outcomes?
It increases the risk of macrosomia, congenital malformations, and subsequent perinatal death.
58
What are common findings in pre-eclampsia related to perinatal death?
Pre-eclampsia is associated with intrauterine growth restriction and placental pathology such as infarcts.
59
Which neural tube defect is frequently detected during perinatal autopsy?
Spina bifida is a common neural tube defect identifiable on autopsy.
60
What does anencephaly indicate in a perinatal examination?
It is the absence of a major portion of the brain and skull, representing a severe neural tube defect.
61
What is hydrops fetalis, and what does it signify?
Hydrops fetalis is the generalized oedema of the foetus, often indicating severe anaemia or cardiac failure.
62
How is oligohydramnios manifested in perinatal pathology?
It is characterised by reduced amniotic fluid volume and can be associated with Potter facies and other physical abnormalities.
63
What is the importance of X-ray imaging in perinatal autopsy?
X-rays help identify skeletal dysplasias and malformations that may not be evident on gross examination.
64
What is the role of biochemical investigations in perinatal autopsy?
They help identify metabolic or endocrine disturbances that could have contributed to the death.
65
How is clinico-pathological correlation utilised in autopsy reporting?
It integrates clinical history, imaging, and pathological findings to establish a coherent cause of death.
66
Why is accurate death certification critical for health surveillance?
It ensures that mortality data are precise, supporting public health research and resource allocation.
67
What is the overarching goal of performing a post mortem examination?
To determine the cause of death with high accuracy, offer closure to families, and contribute to medical knowledge.
68
What is the role of postmortem examinations in modern medical practice?
Postmortem examinations help identify the cause of death, contribute to medical knowledge, and improve future healthcare outcomes by learning from past cases.
69
How do postmortem examinations contribute to public health?
Postmortem examinations provide data for mortality statistics, which inform public health policies and resource allocation.
70
What are the limitations of postmortem examinations in determining the cause of death?
Limitations of postmortem examinations include the inability to always determine the cause of death, with success rates varying widely from 22% to 76%.
71
What is the significance of examining the placenta in perinatal pathology?
Examining the placenta in perinatal pathology helps identify conditions affecting the fetus, such as infections or placental insufficiency.
72
How does the timing of death affect the findings in a perinatal autopsy?
The timing of death affects perinatal autopsy findings, with maceration indicating the interval between fetal death and delivery.
73
What are the common causes of perinatal death investigated in autopsies?
Common causes of perinatal death investigated in autopsies include congenital anomalies, infections, and complications from prematurity.
74
How do congenital anomalies contribute to perinatal mortality?
Congenital anomalies, such as neural tube defects and chromosomal disorders, significantly contribute to perinatal mortality.
75
What is the role of genetic testing in perinatal autopsies?
Genetic testing in perinatal autopsies helps identify chromosomal abnormalities and guide future pregnancy planning.
76
How does maternal health impact perinatal outcomes?
Maternal health, including conditions like diabetes and pre-eclampsia, significantly impacts perinatal outcomes and risk of mortality.
77
What are the ethical considerations in performing postmortem examinations?
Ethical considerations in postmortem examinations include obtaining consent and balancing the need for information with respect for the deceased and their families.

Clinical Pathology in Action (19 decks)

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