The chemicals between us: First results of the cluster analyses on anatomy embalming procedures in the German-speaking countries

TY - JOUR

T1 - The chemicals between us: First results of the cluster analyses on anatomy embalming procedures in the German-speaking countries

AU - Kerner, Alexander Michael

AU - Biedermann, Uta

AU - Bräuer, Lars

AU - Caspers, Svenja

AU - Doll, Sara

AU - Engelhardt, Maren

AU - Filler, Timm J

AU - Ghebremedhin, Estifanos

AU - Gundlach, Stefanie

AU - Hayn-Leichsenring, Gregor U

AU - Heermann, Stephan

AU - Hettwer-Steeger, Ingrid

AU - Hiepe, Laura

AU - Hirt, Bernhard

AU - Hirtler, Lena

AU - Hörmann, Romed

AU - Kulisch, Christoph

AU - Lange, Tobias

AU - Leube, Rudolf

AU - Meuser, Annika Hela

AU - Müller-Gerbl, Magdalena

AU - Nassenstein, Christina

AU - Neckel, Peter H

AU - Nimtschke, Ute

AU - Paulsen, Friedrich

AU - Prescher, Andreas

AU - Pretterklieber, Michael

AU - Schliwa, Stefanie

AU - Schmidt, Katja

AU - Schmiedl, Andreas

AU - Schomerus, Christof

AU - Schulze-Tanzil, Gundula

AU - Schumacher, Udo

AU - Schumann, Sven

AU - Spindler, Volker

AU - Streicher, Johannes

AU - Tschernig, Thomas

AU - Unverzagt, Axel

AU - Valentiner, Ursula

AU - Viebahn, Christoph

AU - Wedel, Thilo

AU - Weigner, Janet

AU - Weninger, Wolfgang W

AU - Westermann, Jürgen

AU - Weyers, Imke

AU - Waschke, Jens

AU - Hammer, Niels

N1 - © 2023 The Authors. Anatomical Sciences Education published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - 10.1002/ase.2285

DO - 10.1002/ase.2285

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 37183973

VL - 16

SP - 814

EP - 829

JO - ANAT SCI EDUC

JF - ANAT SCI EDUC

SN - 1935-9772

IS - 5

ER -