Abstract

Context: Cardiovascular diseases constitute the most common cause of sudden death. In medicolegal autopsies it is proposed that every possible organ must be sampled for histopathological examination as they provide the most accurate clues to a better understanding of human cardiovascular pathology. Aims: The main aim of this study was to analyse the histopathological spectrum of cardiac diseases which play a major role as cause of death in autopsy specimens that were received in a tertiary care hospital. Settings and Design: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore, the study period was from January 2015 to December 2019 during which a total of 276 autopsies were received. Out of these 173 cases included specimens of heart and were considered in this study. Methods and Material: During the study period from January 2015 to December 2019, a total of 276 autopsies were received. Out of these 173 cases included specimens of heart and were considered in this study. Epidemiological data and post mortem findings were noted, gross findings documented and the heart opened through inflow outflow method. Microscopic findings on H and E stained sections were studied with special stains ordered wherever required. The histopathogical findings were analysed. Results: Males outnumbered females with 85% of the total cases and maximum number of cases were observed between 3rd decade to 5th decade. On histopathology, 60.4% of the cases showed atherosclerotic changes involving the coronary arteries followed by myocardial infarction (9%), myocardial hypertrophy (7%), cardiomyopathy (4.2%) cases, myocarditis (3.4%), 0.5% case each of aortic stenosis and infective endocarditis. 15% of cases showed no significant abnormalities on gross and microscopic examination. Conclusions: Atherosclerosis involving the coronaries is probably the commonest finding on histopathology of the heart in cases subjected to autopsies. Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis presenting as sudden death is commom in the younger population.

Keywords: Coronaries; Heart; Post-mortem; Histopathology.

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