Post Mortem Technique Handbook

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XII

   PDF

2. Before the post mortem

   • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

   Pages 1-31

3. General inspection and initial stages of evisceration

   • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

   Pages 33-52

4. Evisceration techniques

   • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

   Pages 53-72

5. Block dissection

   • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

   Pages 73-85

6. Organ dissection — cardiovascular system

   • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

   Pages 87-116

7. Organ dissection — respiratory system

   • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

   Pages 117-129

8. Organ dissection — gastrointestinal system

   • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

   Pages 131-143

9. Organ dissection — genitourinary system

   • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

   Pages 145-161

10. Organ dissection — endocrine system

    • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

    Pages 163-169

11. Organ dissection — lymphoreticular system

    • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

    Pages 171-177

12. Organ dissection — musculoskeletal system

    • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

    Pages 179-195

13. Organ dissection — nervous system

    • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

    Pages 197-223

14. After dissection

    • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

    Pages 225-245

15. Fetal, perinatal and infant autopsies

    • Michael T. Sheaff, Deborah J. Hopster

    Pages 247-290

16. Back Matter

    Pages 291-306

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The relentless decline in the hospital based autopsy has been documented else­ where in detail and has been generally deplored as a loss of an important method of "quality control" at a time when the practise of Medicine is closely scrutinised. This is not the place to revisit these well-rehearsed arguments but the change itself provides a powerful justification for the production of this book. The decrease in clinically requested autopsies in hospitals leaves a large and increasing number of Coronial autopsies to be done; many of these in circum­ stances of discontent with some aspect of the medical or other management of the events which ultimately lead to death. The pathologists now performing these autopsies will not have had the amount of experience that was commonplace among their predecessors; an experience of carrying out procedures which, although devised for different purposes, can provide a more complete examina­ tion of the whole body than often appears necessary in straightforward deaths in the community. In my first two years in Pathology I performed 200 autopsies; most of my contemporaries will have had a similar grounding - it would not be possi­ ble to provide this experience for staff in training now, except in some parts of the European mainland. So there is a need to provide a written but practical account of the autopsy which will help those who may find themselves in unfamiliar territory.

• Post Mortem Techniques
• cardiovascular
• cardiovascular system
• death
• education
• evaluation
• forensic medicine
• hospital
• medical education
• nervous system
• organ
• pathology
• respiratory system
• training
• trust

From reviews of the 1^st edition:

This is a practical benchtop manual, which is comprehensive and fills a gap in the market. It is recommended, especially as an introductory handbook for trainees in anatomical pathology. (Clinical, Anatomical, Experimental Pathology 2002:34;204.)

The textbook should be available n each institute of pathology which is still performing autopsies, especially when young colleagues are to be trained in this technique. (Electronic Journal of Pathology and Histopathology 19-03-01.)

• Department of Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology, Royal London Hospital, London, UK

  Michael T. Sheaff

• Department of Histopathology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK

  Deborah J. Hopster

Policies and ethics