FETAL AUTOPSY
A fetal autopsy is a detailed physical and surgical body examination in order to understand more about the cause of death.
An autopsy helps to find abnormalities that may not be apparent.
The most usual reason is the determination of the cause of death of the fetus. As for the information that can be gleaned by the examination, it usually concerns:
• Information about internal problems that lead to death which don’t make themselves apparent nor can they be recognized by an external examination of the fetus’s body.
• Important information concerning any future conception as well as any future healthcare needs that might arise in the family, are linked to the cause of death of the fetus and need to be addressed.
• Acquisition of medical knowledge that might prove useful in other similar cases.
There is no set time limit for the decision. Having said that it is useful to mention that the sooner an autopsy is performed the more information a pathologist can gather.
The procedure followed depends on the age of the fetus, the medical history of the mother and the conditions of death. The tests may be limited to an external examination, however it is possible that an internal examination may also be conducted (“internal examination” of the organs, the tissues and of the bodily fluids).
Some or all of the following may be performed:
- Examination of the surface of the ear, the throat and of the skin.
- Examination of the placenta and the umbilical cord.
- External photographs may be taken.
- A skin sample may be collected in order to test the chromosomes.
An autopsy is not unlike a surgery. The internal examination is done by making an incision to the fetus’s body which is sutured after the tests are completed and which usually starts from the lowest part of the throat moving towards the pubic bone. If the head is also to be examined, the incision is done at the back of the skull.
It is usually completed in a day. However it is possible that up to several weeks may be needed in order for all the tests to be completed and provide conclusive results, depending on the king of the examination performed. After the conclusion of the examination the body of the fetus is immediately returned to the parents.