Comparative study of two techniques for embalming and storing human cadavers for teaching

Abstract

Different institutions of teaching and learning worldwide have employed unique technique of formulating and modifying their embalming solutions to suit their needs. However, the tank method which is not widely used according to Benkhadra, 2011 is sometimes employed by some of these institutions despite its drawback of being expensive and labour intensive. Few studies have been conducted to determine the efficiency of the tank and refrigeration methods of maintaining student cadavers. Therefore, the present study sought to find out which of the techniques is able to well preserve student cadavers with low formaldehyde concentration. A total of sixty one male cadavers aged 35 - 65 years for students’ dissections and prosections were divided into 3 groups designated A, B and C. Groups A and B contained 28 cadavers each. Group A cadavers were embalmed using the KSMD Anatomy Embalming solution (Appendix A) and immediately placed into a cadaver tank containing the same embalming solution. The 28 Group B cadavers were injected using the KSMD Embalming solution and stored in a cold room at a temperature of 0 – 4 oC. Group C contained five cadavers which served as the control was dissected and tissue harvested the same day it was received. Sections of tissues were harvested from each of the cadaver under study then processed, sectioned and stained for light microscopy. Histologically, organs that were tank embalmed, presented with good microscopic architecture. Tissues from the refrigerated method exhibited greater tissue distortions at the microscopic level