Key result
Postmortem examination rates after cardiac surgery vary widely, ranging from <10% to >20% across the UK.
Why the study?
There has been no national audit of the indications for, or value of, post mortem examinations after cardiac surgery despite variable autopsy rates across regions.
A t present in England and Wales just over 20% of all deaths are followed by a post mortem examination, almost all on the instructions of a coroner.In contrast, in Scotland and Northern Ireland the rates are below 10%.In a wider context overall post mortem rates in the provinces of Canada vary between 5-9% and are probably much lower in France and Germany.The reasons for this variation are unknown.Remarkably there has been no national audit of the indications for, or value of, autopsy examination.In this review we consider: c why autopsies should be performed after cardiac surgery c who should perform these autopsies and how they should be reported c what has been learnt from post mortem examinations performed on patients dying after cardiac surgery c what the role of these autopsies is in the future.
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Hickling et al. (2007) conducted a review in Death after cardiac surgery. Post mortem examination was evaluated. Post mortem examination rates vary widely, being >20% in England and Wales but <10% in Scotland and Northern Ireland, prompting a review of their indications and value after cardiac surgery.
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