[Arterial opacification in the anatomo-pathologic test of the fetus]

Arteriography provides information that is very useful for planning postmortem examinations of fetuses and stillborn neonates. This was demonstrated in a series of 25 fetal arteriographies performed by catheterization of the umbilical artery. A detailed analysis of systemic and pulmonary arteries was possible. The data thus collected was used to plan the postmortem examination. Furthermore, arteriography provided data on organs damaged by maceration and small caliber vessels that could not be readily submitted to pathologic studies. Arteriography of fetuses or stillborn infants is irreplaceable when permission to perform an autopsy is refused by the parents.