Contribution of fetopathological examination in identifying causes of neonatal deaths

To determine the concordance between the causes of death reported in the neonatal departement and the data obtained from the fetopathologic examination.

We included all newborns admitted to the Neonatal Resuscitation Unit who died there before the 28th day of life and in whom a fetopathological examination was performed.

The causes of neonatal deaths were characterized by the dominance of respiratory pathologies (31%) then palliative cares (18%), neurological causes (9%), heart disease (9%), inherited diseases of metabolism (6%) and sudden deaths (6%). A total concordance between fetopathological and neonatological examinations was noted in 27% of the cases, a partial concordance in 40%, a total discordance in 27%, and in only 6% of the cases the fetopathological examination didn't show any abnormalities.

We emphasize of the importance of fetopathological examination in the determination of the cause of neonatal deaths by providing an exhaustive diagnosis essential to the management of future pregnancies.