Assessment of Cause of Death and Internal Organs of Human Bodies of Covid-19 Patients Received for Autopsies to a Tertiary Care Hospital of Lahore.

Abstract

Background and Objective: COVID-19 cause extensive effects on virtually all organs. It causes inflammation, endothelitis, vasoconstriction, hypercoagulability, and edema. Different organs may be affected at different times. Hence we aim to determine the cause of death and pattern of the injuries to the internal organs among the dead bodies of patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease. Methods: This Cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore over a 1-year period from 2021 to 2022. 150 autopsies of COVID-19-positive patients who died from Covid, during the peak era were received. Autopsies were performed and internal organs were carefully examined clinically along with histopathological evidence. Reports were assessed and the presence or absence of single or multiple organ dysfunction was recorded. The data was recorded in a proforma and entered and analyzed in SPSS version 25. Results: The mean age of dead bodies at the time of death was 54.5 ± 14.73 years. 112 (74.7%) of these patients were males while 38 (25.3%) were females. The mean duration of COVID-19 was 14.22 ± 9.41 days and the mean duration of death until the presentation of the body for autopsy was 21.89 ± 6.37 hours. Out of 150 cases, death due to respiratory failure was observed in 67 (44.7%) cases, renal failure in 21 (14.0%) cases, liver failure in 18 (12.0%) cases, Venous thromboembolism in 16 (10.7%) cases, meningitis in 10 (6.7%) cases, intestinal perforation was observed in 9 (6.0%) cases, in 5 (3.3%) cases, peritonitis was observed and cardiac failure in 5 (3.3%) cases. Conclusion: There are higher chances of organ failure in patients suffering from COVID-19, as proven by autopsies of COVID-19 cases.