A Compendium on Perinatal Autopsy in Neonats

Area of Science:

• Perinatal medicine
• Pathology
• Medical diagnostics

Background:

• Perinatal autopsy is vital for understanding fetal and neonatal mortality.
• The traditional prenatal autopsy remains the gold standard despite technological advancements.
• Tertiary care institutes are ideal for performing prenatal autopsies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the advantages and disadvantages of perinatal autopsy.
• To emphasize the importance of systematic approaches in perinatal pathology.
• To discuss the pathologist's role in perinatal medicine and fetal abnormality management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic histopathologic sampling and rigorous record-keeping.
• Selective use of laboratory tests, including microbiologic examination and karyotyping.
• Examination of the placenta and differentiation of lesions.

Main Results:

• Histological analysis of perinatal autopsies shows healthy developing tissues in most cases.
• Few histological abnormalities are expected in fetal anomaly terminations.
• Prenatal imaging often anticipates organ abnormalities.

Conclusions:

• Perinatal autopsy is indispensable for accurate determination of fetal and neonatal mortality.
• Effective perinatal autopsy requires systematic sampling, record-keeping, and judicious use of technology and tests.
• Pathologists play a key role in multidisciplinary perinatal care, including grief management.