Technique for Latex Injection and Reuse of Human Heads Preserved in Formaldehyde

Ricardo L.L. Dolci; Lívia Castellari Burchianti; Alexandre Bossi Todeschini; Andre Fanhani Lopes; Mirna Duarte Barros; Américo Rubens Leite dos Santos; Paulo Roberto Lazarini

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1669422

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base, Table of Contents

J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2019; 80(03): 270-275
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1669422

Original Article

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Technique for Latex Injection and Reuse of Human Heads Preserved in Formaldehyde

Ricardo L.L. Dolci

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Central Hospital and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

,

Lívia Castellari Burchianti

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Central Hospital and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

,

Alexandre Bossi Todeschini

²Division of Neurological Surgery, Department of Surgery, Central Hospital and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

,

Andre Fanhani Lopes

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Central Hospital and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

,

Mirna Duarte Barros

³Departament of Morphology, School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

,

Américo Rubens Leite dos Santos

²Division of Neurological Surgery, Department of Surgery, Central Hospital and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

,

Paulo Roberto Lazarini

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Central Hospital and School of Medicine of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background Understanding the anatomy of the skull base is paramount for every skull base surgeon, particularly in light of the expanded endoscopic endonasal approaches, and of the refined surgical technique used in both medial and lateral approaches. A comprehensive knowledge of anatomy is the cornerstone for a safe surgery, maximizing resection and minimizing complications. The best study method is the careful dissection of fresh human cadaveric heads in a well-equipped anatomy laboratory. In this study, we describe our protocol for preparing cadaveric specimens without vascular injection, which had been preserved in a formaldehyde solution after treating them with a dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride/distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride solution (commercial fabric softener) and injecting the vascular system with latex.

Method Six cadaveric specimens underwent our treatment and subsequent injection of the vascular system and dissection.

Results All specimens showed a good penetration of the latex and a clear improvement of the malleability of the tissues was noticed. The authors agree that this technique improved the quality of the head and facilitated studying.

Conclusion We consider this an effective treatment with latex, reaching small caliber vessels, and a greater malleability and flexibility of tissues, allowing better dissections, and greater anatomical exposure, making them suitable for skull base training, study, and research.

Keywords

cadaveric specimen - dissection - endoscopy - latex injection - neurosurgery - otolaryngology - skull base

Full Text

References

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