Abstract

MONTERO GONZALEZ, Teresita et al. Histopathology of multiple organ damage in paediatric autopsies. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2013, vol.42, n.2, pp.145-152. ISSN 0138-6557.

Introduction: multiple organ damage is a group of morphological alterations, frequent in critical patients, which are diagnosed in autopsies as a response to systemic inflammation. Different studies report that the youngest people have been particularly affected by this disease. Objective: to analyze the behaviour of the diagnosis of multiple organ damage in paediatric autopsies from two Intensive Care Units and identify the histopathological manifestations, the age, and the sex in dead children. Methods: 13 autopsies of dead children were checked in "Dr. Luis Diaz Soto" Central Military Hospital during 5 years (2003-2007). Other 42 corresponding to the Paediatric Teaching Hospital of San Miguel del Padrón were also checked over a period of 7 years (2000-2006). The ones that reported diagnostic criteria of multiple organ damage were selected. Results: a high frequency of multiple organ damage in autopsies of paediatric therapies in both cases under study was emphasized. The first periods of life were the most affected ones and the sex showed some variations in the two centres under study. Conclusions: the diagnosis of multiple organ damage is the reflection of both the quality of work carried out with autopsies and the training of the medical staff. It is shown in the high levels of diagnostic coincidences. To regulate the uncontrolled inflammatory response means preventing the referred damage, thus saving a child's life.

Keywords : multiple organ damage; autopsy; systemic inflammatory response.

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