Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part B (2022)

Introduction and Objectives: In the last five decades, there is an increasing trend in incidence of cardiac deaths especially among urban population. Cardiac autopsy is the main diagnostic tool to study various histomorphological changes in normal and diseased heart, therefore an autopsy study of heart was undertaken to establish the cause and nature of death, to determine the frequency of acute coronary lesions in sudden cardiac death.

Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized study of 212 autopsies submitted for postmortem analysis was conducted in the Department of Pathology, GMERS Medical College and Civil Hospital, Sola over a period of one year from January 2021 to December 2021. Out of 212 autopsies, specimen of heart was received in all the autopsies, out of which 27 were autolysed. Hence, 185 specimens of whole heart were included in our study. The specimens of whole heart were examined for gross appearance and microscopic section were studied to observe various histomorphological changes and findings were correlated clinically.

Results and Conclusions: Among sudden deaths, coronary atheroscleorsis was found to be the most common pathogenic factor leading to ischemic heart disease. Also, three vessel involvement was the most common pattern in coronary atherosclerosis. Hence, thorough examination of cardiovascular system is necessary in case of autopsy to reach to cause of death.