ERIC Number: EJ1391134
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1935-9772
EISSN: EISSN-1935-9780
The Chemicals between Us--First Results of the Cluster Analyses on Anatomy Embalming Procedures in the German-Speaking Countries
Kerner, Alexander Michael; Biedermann, Uta; Bräuer, Lars; Caspers, Svenja; Doll, Sara; Engelhardt, Maren; Filler, Timm J.; Ghebremedhin, Estifanos; Gundlach, Stefanie; Hayn-Leichsenring, Gregor U.; Heermann, Stephan; Hettwer-Steeger, Ingrid; Hiepe, Laura; Hirt, Bernhard; Hirtler, Lena; Hörmann, Romed; Kulisch, Christoph; Lange, Tobias; Leube, Rudolf; Meuser, Annika Hela; Müller-Gerbl, Magdalena; Nassenstein, Christina; Neckel, Peter H.; Nimtschke, Ute; Paulsen, Friedrich; Prescher, Andreas; Pretterklieber, Michael; Schliwa, Stefanie; Schmidt, Katja; Schmiedl, Andreas; Schomerus, Christof; Schulze-Tanzil, Gundula; Schumacher, Udo; Schumann, Sven; Spindler, Volker; Streicher, Johannes; Tschernig, Thomas; Unverzagt, Axel; Valentiner, Ursula; Viebahn, Christoph; Wedel, Thilo; Weigner, Janet; Weninger, Wolfgang J.; Westermann, Jürgen; Weyers, Imke; Waschke, Jens; Hammer, Niels
Anatomical Sciences Education, v16 n5 p814-829 Sep-Oct 2023
Hands-on courses utilizing preserved human tissues for educational training offer an important pathway to acquire basic anatomical knowledge. Owing to the reevaluation of formaldehyde limits by the European Commission, a joint approach was chosen by the German-speaking anatomies in Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to find commonalities among embalming protocols and infrastructure. A survey comprising 537 items was circulated to all anatomies in German-speaking Europe. Clusters were established for "ethanol"-, formaldehyde-based ("FA"), and "other" embalming procedures, depending on the chemicals considered the most relevant for each protocol. The logistical framework, volumes of chemicals, and infrastructure were found to be highly diverse between the groups and protocols. Formaldehyde quantities deployed per annum were three-fold higher in the "FA" (223 L/a) compared to the "ethanol" (71.0 L/a) group, but not for "other" (97.8 L/a), though the volumes injected per body were similar. "FA" was strongly related to table-borne air ventilation and total fixative volumes =1000 L. "Ethanol" was strongly related to total fixative volumes >1000 L, ceiling- and floor-borne air ventilation, and explosion-proof facilities. Air ventilation was found to be installed symmetrically in the mortuary and dissection facilities. Certain predictors exist for the interplay between the embalming used in a given infrastructure and technical measures. The here-established cluster analysis may serve as decision supportive tool when considering altering embalming protocols or establishing joint protocols between institutions, following a best practice approach to cater toward best-suited tissue characteristics for educational purposes, while simultaneously addressing future demands on exposure limits.
Descriptors: Anatomy, Hands on Science, Human Body, Laboratory Procedures, Foreign Countries, Chemistry, Prediction, Best Practices
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany; Austria; Switzerland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A