BACKGROUND: Hospital autopsy rates have declined worldwide and non-perinatal autopsies have reached extremely low numbers at the University Hospital of Federal University of Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG). OBJECTIVES: To determine if there has been a decrease in the relevance of autopsy at HC-UFMG. METHODS: A comparative study between clinical diagnoses and autopsy findings was conducted, establishing discrepancy rates with therapeutic or prognostic impact on two random samples from 80 autopsies performed at HC-UFMG in the mid 1970’s and 80 autopsies in the 1990’s, both including perinatal and non-perinatal procedures. RESULTS: Non-perinatal (adult and pediatric) autopsies predominated in the 1970’s. Perinatal autopsies (stillbirth and neonatal mortality) predominated in the 1990’s, with a discrepancy rate of 56%. Partial discrepancies, with correct classification of congenital malformations by autopsy, were the most frequent. There were no discrepancies in most pediatric autopsies from the 1970’s. However, most pediatric autopsies from the 1990’s revealed discrepancies. As to the adults, the frequency of diagnostic errors did not change significantly from 1970’s (68%) to 1990’s (57%). Bacterial infections and pulmonary embolism were common conditions that were not clinically diagnosed in the 1970’s; in the 1990s, the post mortem diagnoses comprised a heterogeneous group of diseases. CONCLUSION: Autopsies remain as a useful diagnostic tool in spite of its restricted use currently. The rates of non-perinatal autopsies need urgent improving in order to avoid deleterious effects on medical education, research and quality control of medical care.
Autopsy; Diagnostic errors; Comparative study
