Autopsy evaluation of perinatal mortality: A series of 84 cases Wankhade Vishwajit Kishor1,*, Chikhalkar Bhalchandra G2 1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India 2Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India *Corresponding author: Dr Vishwajit Kishor Wankhade Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. Mobile No- +91 9860841184/8446572339, Email id - vishwajitwankhade@gmail.com
Online published on 13 December, 2018. Abstract Perinatal autopsy provides an opportunity to determine accurate cause of death, factors that may have a role in it along with the presence of congenital malformations in newborns. Such perinatal autopsies were conducted in this study to evaluate vivid causes of death, factors associated with it and presence of common congenital anomalies. Total 84 cases were studied. Pneumonia (32.14%) followed by septicaemia (19.04%) were the major contributors of mortality among natural causes and among unnatural deaths, head injury (3.57%) and thermal burns (2.38%) were noted. Preterm deliveries, low birth weight and poor socioeconomic conditions were the leading factors associated perinatal mortality. Tracheo-oesophageal fistula (4.76%) and anorectal malformations (2.38%) were most commonly observed. Cases where congenital anomalies were suspected but could not be confirmed clinically were confirmed on autopsy examination. Thus perinatal autopsy is valuable tool in retrieving the valuable information regarding paediatric mortality which subsequently is critical for planning of health services. Top Keywords Perinatal deaths, Perinatal autopsy, Congenital malformation. Top |