The autopsy in a tertiary teaching hospital in Brazil

A high autopsy rate allows accurate epidemiological studies and quality control of medical care. This study aims to analyze all autopsies performed in a university teaching hospital in Brazil during 52 consecutive wk. The following data were retrieved from individual autopsy records: gender, age, time of death (hr, day, and month), and the main cause of death. There were 1419 autopsies (79% adults and 21% pediatrics, 60% male and 40% female). Those performed during working days summed up to 67.5%, the remaining 32.5% were performed during weekends or holidays. Autopsies were more frequent during the nocturnal than diurnal period (52.6% vs 47.4%, respectively). The causes of death distributed among the ICD-10 categories were: cardiovascular diseases 21.3%, infectious diseases 19.2%, neoplasms 12.8%, perinatal conditions 10.8%, respiratory diseases 6.6%, gastrointestinal diseases 6.0%, congenital anomalies 4.7%, CNS diseases 3.8%, genitourinary diseases 1.8%, and others 13.0%. There was coexistence of the diseases typical of both industrialized and developing countries, indicating the epidemiological transition in our country. Our data indicate that staff supervision of undergraduate medical students and residents is adequate. Along with a brief discussion of the historical, cultural, and legal factors that allow a high autopsy rate, this study reinforces the importance of the autopsy in a tertiary teaching hospital.