Study on Occurrence of Autopsies in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Western Nepal

This study aims to explore the occurrence of autopsies in different death cases in a tertiary-level referral public hospital located in western Nepal. Western Regional Hospital (WRH) under the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, located in Gandaki Province of western Nepal, was taken as a representative public referral hospital for this study. This study also aims to analyze the frequency of respective death cases and its possible causes, impacts and role of authorities to minimize unusual deaths. Medical records maintained by the hospital in two full English calendar years, 2023 AD and 2024 AD, were analyzed for this study. It was found that suicidal death, accidental deaths and metabolic deaths were the major types of death found after autopsy. Higher numbers of male autopsies were found than females. Higher numbers of autopsy cases were in the age group of 25–40 years. Most of the cases were different forms and types of suicide, i.e. 47 percent and 50 percent in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Nearly half of the suicidal deaths, i.e. 49 percent, were caused by hanging in both years and were followed by poisoning, drowning and suicidal fall respectively. Accidental death: 43 percent and 36 percent in 2023 and 2024 respectively were found following suicidal death. Blunt force injuries, i.e.47 percent and 65 percent in 2023 and 2024 caused by accidental falling, were found higher in accidental death. It was found that Road Traffic Accident (RTA)-related death and head injury-induced death were caused by any type of accidental hit or blunt force injury to the head. The Government of Nepal and its concerned ministries and agencies have been recommended to develop policies and strategies of minimizing unusual deaths related to road traffic accidents, different types and forms of suicide or suicide attempt, different forms of murder and the unnatural mortality of people.