S2L2 - Learning From The Dead

Question 1

What are coroners autopsies?

Answer 1

Autopsies that are conducted as a legal requirement. Occur when the deceased are unknown, have not been seen by a doctor within 14 days of death, attending doctor not able to give cause of death, obviously unnatural death, death related to occupational disease or accident. Death related to medical treatment or procedure.

Question 2

What is involved in an autopsy?

Answer 2

History - often limited to coroners cases,

External examination - natural disease, injury, medical intervention

Internal examination - all systems usually, limited in consent cases sometimes.

Question 3

What are common causes of sudden deaths?

Answer 3

Head - extramural haemorrhage, subdural haemorrhage, sub-arachnoid haemorrhage, ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke.

Heart - coronary thrombosis, myocardial infarction, valvular disease, cardiomyopathy,

Blood vessels - ruptured abdominal aortic aneurism, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, bronchopneumonia, peritonitis.

Question 4

What is neuropathology?

Answer 4

Cellular pathology restricted to the CNS, peripheral nerves, muscle. Done during autopsies where death caused by trauma or neurodegenerative disease.