[The status of the Moscow pathoanatomical service and the outlook for its improvement].

The paper concerns the problems facing pathologic anatomy service in Moscow. It is stated that the service needs reorganization. The advances in methodology, staffing, continued training, salary system, connections with other services should be accomplished.

[Lethal outcomes analysis (status, problems, methods)].

The role of a lethal issues analysis in improving the level of public health is discussed. The significance of autopsy results and their analysis, with the development of medical science, not only did not decrease but, on the contrary, considerably increased. Real possibility of computer analysis of the lethal issues appeared with the introduction of International classification of diseases.

[An attempt to analyze lethal outcomes].

The results of the analysis of 2675 autopsy protocols for 1987-1990 in the Moscow City Pathology Centre and 18246 cases of surgery of patients with urgent abdominal pathology in the Ostroumov's Hospital N 33 for 1980-1989 (with 870 lethal issues) are presented. Over 62% of the total are patients over 75 years of age. The advanced age, the presence of multiple diseases (polypathies) considerably influenced the course, diagnosis, therapy and issues of diseases, particularly in the urgent surgical pathology.