Autopsy methods anatomic pathology.pptxpptx

An anatomic pathology slide explaining the various methods by which autopsy can be done

1. Autopsy methods /procedures DR PELEMO O.E

2. Definition Autopsy is a postmortem examination, which is a specialized surgery done to determine cause and manner of death or the extent of disease.

3. Types of autopsy methods/procedures The various techniques are as follows. Virchow Rokitansky Ghon Letulle

4. Letulle method; the dissection is commenced at the abdomen. The abdominal organs are removed “ en bloc”. It’s a retroperitoneal direction approach. Organs are removed starting with organs situated directly behind the peritoneum and moving backward. Using the vasculature as a reference point to orient.

5. Virchow technique ; the organs are removed one by one, starting at the cranium and moving down to the thoracic, abdominal, and cervical organs. Following a top -down approach.

6. Rokitansky technique; it’s an insitu ( local ) dissection that starts at the neck and trails down and the organs are removed as a block.

7. Ghon technique; its similar to the Rokitansky in that the thoracic , cervical, and abdominal organs are removed using the bloc method , but the Ghon will not employ an insitu dissection instead opt for “ en block “ removal.

8. Types of autopsies Clinical autopsy Forensic autopsy Academic autopsy

9. Autopsies are in three categories Medicolegal autopsy or Forensic or Coroner’s autopsies. Anatomical or academic autopsies Clinical or Pathological autopsies

10. Procedure Y – incision; this is the procedure used by the pathologists or examiner to open up the breastplate of the deceased and gain access to the body’s major organs. The heart, lungs,liver , stomach spleen , kidneys etc.

11. Procedural steps External examination Internal examination Viewing the internal organs Removal of the organs Removal of the brain Returning organs to the body Sewing up of the body. All organs are weighed and dissected and samples taken for histopathology. Autopsy report is written and signed.

12. Importance of autopsies Saving lives Discovering hereditary illness/diseases Medico legal evidence For” closure” for the relatives

13. Legally Defined manners of Death Natural Accidental Homicide Suicide Undetermined