The role of autopsy in death resulting from trauma

This study examined the difference between clinical impressions and autopsy findings in a group of patients dying on a university surgical service after blunt injury, penetrating injury, or thermal burns. Of 215 patients dying between the years 1984 and 1988, 212 were included in this study (autopsy rate, 98.6%). Major discrepancies in clinical diagnosis versus the anatomic diagnosis at autopsy were found to occur in approximately 30% of patients. The incidence of errors in diagnosis which may have impacted on survival in these groups of injured patients was quite low (5.1%). These data support the continued practice of obtaining autopsy in all patients dying from trauma. This information is clinically relevant, and, in today’s atmosphere of quality assurance, absolutely necessary for a modern trauma center.