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Modified Method to Perform Autopsy Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Weibiao Cao1, Katelyn Dannheim2
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
Abstract:
During autopsies, pathologists, pathology residents and their support staff in the autopsy suite face potential risk of being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 because some procedures such as lung dissection may produce aerosols. In addition to follow the CDC guidelines for postmortem examination, we modified the method of organ dissection and evisceration for additional mitigation of risk. The lung weight was calculated by subtracting the weight of the formalin by volume from the weight of the lung after formalin fixation. 272 autopsies, including 27 COVID-19-positive cases, were performed from Feb. 2020 to Jan. 2021. None of 22 autopsy personnel were infected with COVID-19. The calculated lung weights (537.2±42.5 grams) were not significantly different from the fresh lung weights (541.3±43 grams, p=0.95). We conclude that autopsies may be performed safely during COVID-19 pandemic. The autopsy method shared here may be useful for future respiratory infectious diseases.
