POSTMORTEM
EXAMINATION
Autopsy: to see with
your own eyes.
- Underlying cause
of death: It is the disease or injury, which initiates the
train of morbid events leading directly to death.
- Proximate cause of
death: Immediate event ("last straw") associated with death.
NECROPSY
Unique in its
contribution to medical knowledge, quality assurance and
medical education.
It is a last gift
of knowledge to the living from the dead.
Necropsy is the
systematic examination of an animal carcass aimed to search
for lesions.
The necropsy
procedure varies from examiner to examiner and from specimen
to specimen.
The conduct of a
particular routine depends largely on the:
individual
preferences of the examiner,
the
availability of the materials and equipment for the
examination,
the
condition or state of the carcass,
the extent
of the examination required, and
the mode
of examination requested by the client or owner.
Various medical
imaging techniques ?
Necropsy still
provides a first hand look.
Not all disease
processes will show dramatic morphologic alterations in
organs and tissues.
Skilfully
performed necropsy with all the information gathered,
accurately recorded and interpreted will provide valuable
assistance in the formulation of animal health and
production strategies.
PURPOSE
TRADITIONAL
- Discover/elucidate
new disease
- Educate medical
students – correlate altered function with abnormal
structure.
- Continuing medical
education
- Evaluate new
technologies, therapies, procedures, interventions.
- Research.
- Source of spare
parts.
MORE
RECENT ADDITIONAL PURPOSES
- Genetic
counselling (molecular diagnostics).
- Identity of
"clusters" of occupational and environmental diseases.
- Quality assessment
Pre- and postmortem diagnoses.
- Reinforce
importance of medical uncertainty.
- Improve accuracy
of vital statistics including death certificates.
- Assist in reducing
feelings of grief, guilt, and anger amongst surviving
relatives
- Insurance and
death benefits.
- Identify and
remove foci of needless risk in hospital practice.
- Establish
underlying cause of death:
LEGAL/PROFESSIONAL PREREQUISITES
Written permission
from the owner/farm manager.
In veterolegal
cases – magistrate/judge officer.
Identity of the
animal requested for postmortem
Complete history –
Clinical signs, morbidity, mortality, disease prevalent in
that area, treatment given, response to treatment,
laboratory findings etc.
RULES
In veterolegal
cases – carefully read the police report.
Conduct PM in
daylight.
PM examination
should be thorough and complete.
All the details of
PM examination should be carefully noted in the PM
report/notes.
The rough notes
and final report should tally.
A thorough
knowledge of pathological appearance of organs is must.
Time and date of
carcass arrival and examination should be noted.
There should be no
delay in holding PM examination.
No unauthorized
person should be allowed at the time of PM.
SPECIAL
PRECAUTIONS
No Eating,
Drinking and smoking.
Disposal of the
carcass should preferably be done by incineration.
Thick bed of
Straw.
Reliable
disinfection of ground is difficult – top layer burry.
Disinfect
instruments, cloths and other materials
Sterilization of
instruments by heat is preferred over chemical
disinfectants.
In field, — choose
a site which is neglected place
Water should be
sparingly used.
BASIC
EQUIPMENT
- The choice of
equipment for necropsy depends on
- the size of
the animal,
- the type of
examination requested (whether routine or cosmetic
necropsy), and
- the individual
preferences of the examiner.
- For most purposes
– two sharp knives
- a pair of
scissors and
- forceps,
- a metal probe,
- hacksaw.
|