Abstract

FERNANDEZ, ALICIA et al. El valor de la necropsia en una unidad de cuidado intensivo pediátrico. Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2001, vol.72, n.3, pp.211-216. ISSN 1688-1249.

Objective: an attempt was to evaluate the contributions from the postmortem examination in children and because some children haven’t it examination. Patients and methods: we carried out a retrospective comparison analysis between clinical and pathological diagnosis of 20 consecutive autopsies performed on children who died in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit during the period October 01.98- June 30.99 Results: the autopsy rate was 44%. Autopsy provided valuable clinical information 10 of the 20 cases (50%). There were mayor diagnosis errors in eight patients (40%), that if detected before death would not have prolonged survival. Conclusions: the value of the autopsy as quality assurance and to detect iatrogenics and occult diseases is unquestionable.

Keywords : AUTOPSY; INTENSIVE CARE UNITS; PEDIATRIC; DIAGNOSTIC ERRORS.