Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40839335›Full record

Observational studyForensic science, medicine, and pathology2026

Exploring minimally invasive tissue sampling as an alternative to conventional autopsy in neonatal deaths.

Athira Sreenivas, Leslie Lewis, Jayashree Purkayastha, Vani Lakshmi R, Mary Mathew

Abstract readObservational StudyComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Forensic science, medicine, and pathology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Athira SreenivasCentre for Foetal and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-460X
Leslie LewisDepartment of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3467-6821
Jayashree PurkayasthaDepartment of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9754-1756
Vani Lakshmi RDepartment of Data Science, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2473-5311
Mary MathewCentre for Foetal and Perinatal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India. mary.mathew@manipal.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4048-3567

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1180554
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeNeonatal mortality is a significant public health concern which requires accurate identification of the cause of death (CoD). There has been a decline in conventional diagnostic autopsy (CDA) globally due to ethical and cultural barriers, resulting in lack of comprehensive data on neonatal deaths. Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) of organs has emerged as an innovative alternative to CDA as it is less invasive and feasible. This study evaluates the effectiveness of MITS versus CDA in determining the cause of death in neonates.

methodsThis was a single-center observational study conducted on 100 neonatal autopsies. The demographic, clinical, imaging data and ancillary tests were analyzed prior to performing both the techniques. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and interrater reliability were assessed.

resultsThe concordance rate for lesions in the brain, lung, and liver in MITS versus CDA was 79%, 84%, and 94% respectively. There was high sensitivity and specificity for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and hyaline membrane disease (HMD) by the MITS technique, however it was not useful in detecting focal and peripheral lesions in organs.

conclusionsMITS is a promising alternative to CDA with comparable diagnostic accuracy in determining causes of death in neonates.

Indexed as

Specimen HandlingAutopsyBrainCause of DeathCerebral Intraventricular HemorrhageFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornLiverLungMalePredictive Value of TestsReproducibility of ResultsSensitivity and SpecificityCause of deathConventional diagnostic autopsyMinimally invasive tissue samplingNeonate

Identifiers

PMID40839335

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.