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Formalin Solution and Saturated Salt Solution for Embalming Cadavers for Surgical Skills Training
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Why is it important?
Context: Surgical techniques have advanced rapidly over the years. Surgeons need to update themselves with these advances. Many surgeons also feel the need to hone their surgical skills so as to achieve best possible management of their patients. To facilitate this, Surgical Workshops (SWs) are organized in medical colleges. For these workshops to be effective, it is necessary that cadavers used in these workshops be embalmed in such a way that they resemble the body in natural state as far as possible. Aims: To compare the two embalming methods– formal in solution and saturated salt solution in terms of (a) Sterility of body tissue/fluids achieved; (b) Range of motion in joints postembalming; (c) Ease of performing incision on abdomen. Settings and Design: A total of 16 cadavers were taken for this study. These were all donated bodies between the age group 50–80 years. Materials and Methods: These cadavers were divided into Two Groups: Group A and Group B. Each Group had four male and four female cadavers. Group A was embalmed using formalin solution and Group B was embalmed Saturated Salt Solution (SSS). Bacterial culture tests and measurement of ranges of motion were conducted for each cadaver. In addition, incision followed by suture were performed in the cadavers. Statistical analysis used: Mann Whitney U test. Results: The SSS method had a sufficient antibiotic effect and produced cadavers with flexible joints and a high tissue quality suitable for surgical workshops. The surgeons found the cadavers embalmed by the SSS method to have a higher range of mobility than those embalmed by the formalin method. Conclusions: Cadavers embalmed by the SSS method are optimum for SWs. This method is simple, carries a low infectious risk, and is relatively of low cost, enabling a wider use of cadavers for training in surgical techniques.
Perspectives
Context: Surgical techniques have advanced rapidly over the years. Surgeons need to update themselves with these advances. Many surgeons also feel the need to hone their surgical skills so as to achieve best possible management of their patients. To facilitate this, Surgical Workshops (SWs) are organized in medical colleges. For these workshops to be effective, it is necessary that cadavers used in these workshops be embalmed in such a way that they resemble the body in natural state as far as possible. Aims: To compare the two embalming methods– formal in solution and saturated salt solution in terms of (a) Sterility of body tissue/fluids achieved; (b) Range of motion in joints postembalming; (c) Ease of performing incision on abdomen. Settings and Design: A total of 16 cadavers were taken for this study. These were all donated bodies between the age group 50–80 years. Materials and Methods: These cadavers were divided into Two Groups: Group A and Group B. Each Group had four male and four female cadavers. Group A was embalmed using formalin solution and Group B was embalmed Saturated Salt Solution (SSS). Bacterial culture tests and measurement of ranges of motion were conducted for each cadaver. In addition, incision followed by suture were performed in the cadavers. Statistical analysis used: Mann Whitney U test. Results: The SSS method had a sufficient antibiotic effect and produced cadavers with flexible joints and a high tissue quality suitable for surgical workshops. The surgeons found the cadavers embalmed by the SSS method to have a higher range of mobility than those embalmed by the formalin method. Conclusions: Cadavers embalmed by the SSS method are optimum for SWs. This method is simple, carries a low infectious risk, and is relatively of low cost, enabling a wider use of cadavers for training in surgical techniques.
Red Flower Publication Publications
Red Flower Publication Pvt Ltd
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This page is a summary of: Comparative Study of Formalin Solution and Saturated Salt Solution for Embalming Cadavers for Surgical Skills Training, Indian Journal of Anatomy, January 2020, Red Flower Publication Private, Ltd.,
DOI: 10.21088/ija.2320.0022.9120.5.
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