Annex A > Chapter 18 - Medical and Clinical Audit > The audit and review of the paediatric cardiac surgical services in Bristol > Clinico-pathological meetings
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Clinico-pathological meetings
433 Clinico-pathological conferences were held when a patient had died. Mr Dhasmana stated that they were held to review individual cases: `in order to confirm the pre-operative diagnosis and to re-examine the operative procedure.' [517]
434 Mr Dhasmana explained that the meetings were organised by Professor Jem Berry and scheduled to take place once a month, but on occasions were postponed or reorganised due to a lack of cases for presentation. [518]
`The Clinico-Pathological Conference was instituted in the early to mid 80s and it almost certainly coincided with the arrival of Dr, later Professor, Jem Berry. [519] Cardiologists, surgeons, radiologists, anaesthetists as well as pathologists were welcome at such meetings. Up until the arrival of Dr Ashworth in 1993 [520] no record whatsoever was kept of these meetings and in particular there were no minutes or definitive reports of findings. As far as I am aware the occurrence of these meetings were not reported to the Trust Audit Committee.' [521]
436 Mr Dhasmana described that at these meetings:
`The clinicians concerned with the case, medical and surgical, would present the clinical details, echo. catheter and angio-graphic findings, the operative procedure and post operative course/events. The pathologist would demonstrate the specimen, describing the autopsy findings. Most of the times the surgeon would also join in the study of operative findings and the technique. The discussion used to centre around the post-mortem findings and if an explanation could be found for the post-operative course and the sad outcome.' [522]
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Footnotes
[517] WIT 0084 0022 Mr Dhasmana
[518] WIT 0084 0022 Mr Dhasmana
[519] Professor Berry was appointed consultant paediatric pathologist at the BRHSC in 1983, see WIT 0204 0002
[520] Dr Michael Ashworth was appointed consultant paediatric pathologist at the UBHT in 1993
[521] WIT 0120 0395 Mr Wisheart
[522] WIT 0084 0022 Mr Dhasmana