Post Mortem

Question 1

What occurs prior to a PM

Answer 1

• Identification of deceased
• High/weight/BMI,
• Skin/hair colour/ eye colour
• Iatrogenic (Scars, drains or IV lines)
• Evidence of trauma,
• Evidence of disease
• Body cavities are examined

Question 2

What does a PM involve?

Answer 2

• Single incision from sternal notch to pubic symphysis to remove thoracic, abdominal and pelvic organs,
• Second incision is made around the posterior part of the skull to reflex the scalp
• The pathologist will inspect and dissect each organ and may retain a small sample of tissue for microscopic assessment

Question 3

What occurs at the end of a PM

Answer 3

• All of the organs are returned to body cavity
• Pathologist will write death certificate if one has not already been written
• Pathologist will then prepare a post mortem report. This can be sent to patient family, GP, clinician in charge.
• Patients body is then released

Question 4

What are the most common causes of death in scotland?

Answer 4

• Malignancy of bronchus and lung,
• Acute MI.
• COPD.
• IHD,
• Dementia
• Other degrative neuro diseases
• Vascular dementia