Does anyone have experience of inconclusive post mortem?

[Evenstar]

My DH died on 26 June,his body was due to be released for burial today, but was retained for histology tests as PM had not shown cause of death. I was very shocked as all verbal evidence from onlookers (he died suddenly away from home) was consistent with a massive heart attack which I am told would normally be seen on the heart at PM. I realise this may raise emotions for people, the same ones I am reeling from myself but I would be so grateful if anyone could tell me what these tests might be looking for.

Evenstar, I'm so sorry for you. I don't know why a heart attack wouldn't show at PM or even whether it's always clear from a PM if a heart attack is teh cause of death. I guess if not clear they may have to look for poisons/blood diseases? My mum's PM results were delayed because there were issues they needed to discuss with her dr (and us, I knew the answer) It's a horrible extra worry when you've enough to be dealing with. I'm so sorry.

Sorry not to be able to give you more insight. My dad's PM wasn't conclusive either (it was either a stroke, brain haemorrhage, fit or any one of these triggered by a fall), and we had to wait several months for an inquest. So, unfortunately, as we discovered this kind of 'grey area' of cause and effect is not unusual, although it is hard to deal with when you are looking for closure. Wishing you strength.

Evanstar sorry for this, hope you and the dcs are holding up OK.

Maybe looking for bacteria/viruses, maybe looking at the heart muscle to see if there was any sign of strain/overwork?

sorry evenstar i am so sorry that you have this to deal with on top of everything else, afraid i can't advice you on this but hope someone can soon

Evenstar - My dh passed away suddenly in August, he was 36 yrs old, when the police knocked they said they thought it looked like a massive heart attack, but at the PM there was no sign of it ... they did actually release his body for the funeral but kept samples for histology ... they just check for viruses, poisons, and generally test for any possible cause of death .... because the cause of death was not apparent at the PM, they have to do every test known to man!! It is not until the last test has come back as inconclusive (or a reason has been found by the tests before hand) that they can officially give a cause of death.
As I said, my coroner did release dh's body for burial but the tests took a further 7 months ..... perhaps you would be able to ask your coroner for a release form (i think that is what it is called" I hope that my post has helped slightly xxx

Thank you all of you for your kind words and for sharing these dreadful experiences with me, Mummy2TandF, I may well take that up with the coroner it was not suggested that releasing DH was an option. Going to see DH's body today which I hope will help with what I am going through.