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| n = number of cases where information was provided |
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13. PATHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
The sample for analysis was small, only 85 autopsy reports available from 1,818 deaths
in the study, and hence the conclusions to be drawn are more limited, in comparison with recent NCEPOD reports. These looked at a 10% sample of all perioperative deaths up to
30 days following surgery1, and all perioperative deaths up to three days following surgery2, which reviewed 350 and 500 autopsy reports respectively.
The standards used for assessing autopsy reports were the 1993 Royal College of Pathologists guidelines3, although in the qualitative assessment of quality, note was also made of the more recently issued Royal College Guidelines for Autopsy Practice4, which were issued midway through the time of the study. Also the advisors were familiar with
the recent NCEPOD reports on autopsy report quality, and focussed on quality issues
that have been repeatedly emphasised in these reports for more than a decade.
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