Contribution of fetopathological examination in identifying causes of neonatal deaths

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Published Mar 30, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i4.5473
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Vol. 103 No. 4 (2025): Tunis Med Apr 2025

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Kaouther Nasri
Department of Embryo-Fetopathology, Center of Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerte, Tunisia.
Nadia Ben Jamaa
Department of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunisia
Yousri Ben Hammed
Department of Neonatalogy, Center of Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1007 Jebbari, Tunis, Tunisia
Meriem Cheour
Department of Neonatalogy, Center of Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1007 Jebbari, Tunis, Tunisia
Imen Ksibi
Department of Neonatalogy, Center of Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1007 Jebbari, Tunis, Tunisia
Samia Kacem
Department of Neonatalogy, Center of Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1007 Jebbari, Tunis, Tunisia
Soumeya Siala Gaigi
Department of Embryo-Fetopathology, Center of Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, 1007 Jebbari, Tunis, Tunisia.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the concordance between the causes of death reported in the neonatal departement and the data obtained from the fetopathologic examination.


Methods: We included all newborns admitted to the Neonatal Resuscitation Unit who died there before the 28th day of life and in whom a fetopathological examination was performed.


Results: The causes of neonatal deaths were characterized by the dominance of respiratory pathologies (31%) then palliative cares (18%), neurological causes (9%), heart disease (9%), inherited diseases of metabolism (6%) and sudden deaths (6%). A total concordance between fetopathological and neonatological examinations was noted in 27% of the cases, a partial concordance in 40%, a total discordance in 27%, and in only 6% of the cases the fetopathological examination didn’t show any abnormalities.


Conclusion: We emphasize of the importance of fetopathological examination in the determination of the cause of neonatal deaths by providing an exhaustive diagnosis essential to the management of future pregnancies.

Keywords:

Neonatal deaths, Neonatological clinical examination, Fetopathological examination

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