Skip to main content

Table 2 Overview of open autopsy and MITS

From: Perceptions of parents and healthcare professionals regarding minimal invasive tissue sampling to identify the cause of death in stillbirths and neonates: a qualitative study protocol

Full autopsy

 - Most comprehensive and complete method to estimate CoD

 - Rarely undertaken in such resource-poor environments due to cultural, financial, religious, and physical barriers

 - Very extensive examination of internal organs begins with the creation of a Y or U- shaped incision from both shoulders joining over the sternum and continuing down to the pubic bone

MITS

 - The MITS procedure involves body inspection and recording of basic anthropometric data; body weight, height/length, mid-upper arm circumference, head circumference, lower leg length and foot length

 - The procedure involves body palpation by a MITS specialist.

 - The procedure involves imaging/photography by a MITS technician

 - The procedure uses biopsy needles to obtain samples of lung, brain, liver and other organs for histopathologic and microbiologic examination to help determine COD

Back to article page

Reproductive Health

ISSN: 1742-4755