• J C Stothert, G B Gbaanador, and D N Herndon.
• University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Surgery, Galveston 77550.
• J Trauma. 1990 Aug 1;30(8):1021-5; discussion 1025-6.

AbstractThis study examined the difference between clinical impressions and autopsy findings in a group of patients dying on a university surgical service after blunt injury, penetrating injury, or thermal burns. Of 215 patients dying between the years 1984 and 1988, 212 were included in this study (autopsy rate, 98.6%). Major discrepancies in clinical diagnosis versus the anatomic diagnosis at autopsy were found to occur in approximately 30% of patients. The incidence of errors in diagnosis which may have impacted on survival in these groups of injured patients was quite low (5.1%). These data support the continued practice of obtaining autopsy in all patients dying from trauma. This information is clinically relevant, and, in today's atmosphere of quality assurance, absolutely necessary for a modern trauma center.

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