Autopsies

Adult Autopsies

Adult autopsies serve relatively rarely to establish cause of death, but rather to check different aspects of medical treatment during the last phase of life. We more and more rely on imaging and biochemical tests for diagnosis, so even with the increasing medical knowledge and technical possibilities it remains important to constantly to check for errors to learn and improve. Still, in about 15% of autopsies, there are findings that during life would have resulted in additional or different treatment. The adult autopsy therefore remains a very important quality control procedure. Of course, it is also important for educational purposes. At the UMCU, we perform approximately 250 adult autopsies per annum. The procedure consists of a gross dissection of the internal organs which is directed by the medical history and findings during autopsy, supplemented with microbiological or biochemical tests, and targeted microscopy of tissue samples or fluids taken during autopsy. Autopsies are performed only after informed consent of the next of kin on request of the treating physician.

Pediatric and Perinatal Autopsies

Pediatric and perinatal autopsies are performed to establish the cause of death, in combination with the macroscopical and microscopical study of the placenta. They are also performed to verify congenital anomalies found on prenatal ultrasound. In combination with biochemical and genetic tests, the perinatal autopsy is important for making a syndrome diagnosis.
At the UMCU, we perform approximately 120 pediatric autopsies per annum. The procedure consists of a gross dissection of the internal organs which is directed by the medical history and findings during autopsy, supplemented with microbiological, biochemical and genetic tests, and targeted microscopy of tissue samples or fluids taken during autopsy. Autopsies are performed only after informed consent of the parents on request of the treating physician.