Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to use autopsy to explore cause of death and to identify medical errors after cardiac surgery.Methods Clinical and autopsy findings in 6 cases were analyzed with respect to the clinical diagnosis,operation types,death time and features,and autopsy findings,medico-legal disputes and related medical errors.Results There were total 6 patients.The procedures involve cardiac valve replacement(4),coronary artery bypass(1),and congenital aortic transposition repair(1).Three patients had sudden death one week after surgery and 3 from congestive heart failure.The findings include myocardial infarction(2),massive myocardial injury(1),endocarditis(2),and multi-organ failure(1).The families in all six cases suspected malpractice.The major concerns were operation indication and timing,selection of operation equipment,operative mishandling,inadequate post-operative care and timely therapeutic invention,inadequate informed consent regarding the severity of the disease itself,the risks of heart surgery,and its prognosis after the procedures.Conclusion Autopsy can be used to determine the cause of death,to assess the quality of the operation and post operation management,and to help to resolve malpractice disputes

Key words: forensic pathology, medical malpractice autopsy, heart surgery, death cause, complication.