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Post-mortem organ weights at a South African mortuary
Background Weighing of organs is a necessary part of every autopsy and provides objective evidence of pathology, especially in forensic cases where histology is not always taken. Reference ranges must be locally applicable, accurate, and regularly defined. Aims The primary aim was generation of...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
2020
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| Summary: | Background
Weighing of organs is a necessary part of every autopsy and provides objective evidence of pathology, especially in forensic cases where histology is not always taken. Reference ranges must be locally applicable, accurate, and regularly defined.
Aims
The primary aim was generation of post-mortem organ weight reference ranges for use in South African mortuaries. Secondary aims were analysing factors influencing organ weights, and comparison of data to those from international populations.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted using autopsy reports from the Salt River medico-legal mortuary in Cape Town, South Africa between 2013 and 2016. Disproportionate randomized stratified sampling was used to obtain sufficient cases from males and females; White, Coloured, and African racial groups; and decedents both older and younger than 50 years. Observations from 1262 decedents >18 years old dying traumatic on-scene deaths were recorded, excluding organs with macroscopic evidence of disease or destructive injury. The organs considered were the brain, heart, both lungs, liver, spleen, and both kidneys, and the variables collected were sex, race, age, height and body weight. This study was approved by the University of Cape Town Human Research Ethics Committee.
Results
Sampled decedents are described and excluded organs accounted for. Descriptive statistics are presented for each of the stratified subsamples. After assumption testing, multiple linear regression models are built, including interaction terms. Factors influencing organ weights are discussed and results compared to selected studies. Ideal organ weight reference ranges are proposed, based on 95% inclusion data from decedents aged 18-35 years with normal body mass indices. A smartphone application is offered, which calculates prediction intervals for individual decedents based on the multiple linear regression models.
Conclusion
This is the first study on post-mortem organ weights in South Africa, and despite limitations it provides useful locally derived population estimates. |
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