[The yield of autopsies in a pediatric practice]

The yield of autopsies in a paediatric population. A retrospective analysis is presented of 91 autopsies on children, who died during the period January 1975 and December 1984 in St. Joseph Ziekenhuis, Eindhoven. In 21% of the cases (newborns 23% and older children 13%) the autopsy provided the definitive explanation for the cause of death. In 43% of the cases unexpected findings were obtained during autopsy. In 12% of the cases autopsy could not substantiate a suspected diagnosis and in 12% of the cases the findings at the autopsy influenced genetic counseling. This high rate of return stresses the importance of autopsy as a mean to improve the quality of medical care in a paediatric population.