Praktische Aspekte von COVID-19-Obduktionen
Boor P, Eichhorn P, Hartmann A, Lax SF, Märkl B, Menter T, Skok K, Slotta-Huspenina J, von Stillfried S, Tzankov A, Weirich G (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article, Review article
Publication year: 2021
Journal
Book Volume: 42
Pages Range: 197-207
Journal Issue: 2
DOI: 10.1007/s00292-021-00925-w
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a so far unknown challenge for the medical community. Autopsies are important for studying this disease, but their safety was challenged at the beginning of the pandemic. Objectives: To determine whether COVID-19 autopsies can be performed under existing legal conditions and which safety standards are required. Materials and methods: The autopsy procedure undertaken in five institutions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is detailed with respect to legal and safety standards. Results: In all institutions the autopsies were performed in technically feasible rooms. The personal equipment consisted of functional clothing including a disposable gown and apron, a surgical cap, eye protection, FFP‑3 masks, and two pairs of gloves. In four institutions, complete autopsies were performed; in one institution the ultrasound-guided biopsy within the postmortal imaging and biopsy program. The latter does not allow the appreciation of gross organ pathology; however, it is able to retrieve standardized biopsies for diagnostic and research purposes. Several scientific articles in highly ranked journals resulted from these autopsies and allowed deep insights into organ damage and conclusions to better understand the pathomechanisms. Viral RNA was frequently detectable in the COVID-19 deceased, but the issue of infectivity remains unresolved and it is questionable if Ct values are greater than 30. Conclusions: With appropriate safeguards, autopsies of people who have died from COVID-19 can be performed safely and are highly relevant to medical research.
Authors with CRIS profile
Philip Eichhorn
Institute of Pathology
Arndt Hartmann
Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie
Involved external institutions
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Germany (DE)
Universitätsspital Basel
Switzerland (CH)
Universitätsklinikum Aachen (UKA)
Germany (DE)
Universität Augsburg
Germany (DE)
Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m. b. H. LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz
Austria (AT)
Germany (DE)
Universitätsspital Basel
Switzerland (CH)
Universitätsklinikum Aachen (UKA)
Germany (DE)
Universität Augsburg
Germany (DE)
Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m. b. H. LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz
Austria (AT)
How to cite
APA:
Boor, P., Eichhorn, P., Hartmann, A., Lax, S.F., Märkl, B., Menter, T.,... Weirich, G. (2021). Praktische Aspekte von COVID-19-Obduktionen. Pathologe, 42(2), 197-207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00292-021-00925-w
MLA:
Boor, Peter, et al. "Praktische Aspekte von COVID-19-Obduktionen." Pathologe 42.2 (2021): 197-207.
BibTeX: Download