Thiel embalming in neonates: methodology and benefits in medical training

Abstract

Current teaching and training methods for surgical techniques in the pediatric population involve artificial models (manikins), animals or adult human cadavers embalmed using various techniques. We found no references in the literature concerning the use of the Thiel method in the pediatric population. The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess the viability of using pediatric human cadavers embalmed through Thiel’s technique and to compare them with standard pediatric manikins. After donation of a 24-week stillborn, the Thiel technique was carried out for fixation following the usual protocol. A video recording with eye-tracking glasses was used to perform an examination, and techniques. The same procedures were conducted on a pediatric manikin. Medical students, medical residents and physicians were asked to respond to questions in an online survey after being shown the video. A total of 92 responses were obtained. The Thiel-embalmed stillborn was assessed as superior to the manikin in all items. Our study confirmed that this technique is feasible even with extremely small donors. The value of this form of preservation for medical training is not widely known though it is receiving increasing interest. Our results show that Thiel fixation in pediatrics is clearly more highly valued than a manikin and offers great potential. This innovative application of the Thiel method in the pediatric population is technically possible. It poses no additional difficulties and is very positively assessed for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

Undergraduate medical student perceptions and learning outcomes related to anatomy training using Thiel‐ and ethanol‐glycerin‐embalmed tissues

“…However, no research to date substantiated the utility of Thiel embalming to other types of anatomical fixation in an undergraduate student environment based on the same cohort. The Thiel method has a number of advantages that seemingly makes it the first choice for use in postgraduate education, surgical training, and partly in research (Hammer et al, 2015; Yiasemidou et al, 2017; Crosado et al, 2020; Hammer, 2022; Humbert et al, 2022; Rakuša & Kocbek Šaherl, 2022; Sanchez‐Ferrer et al, 2022). Anatomy in medical education attempts to teach students how to extrapolate their knowledge on human morphology to living individuals (McLachlan, 2004).…”

Characterization of the layer, direction and time-dependent mechanical behaviour of the human oesophagus and the effects of formalin preservation

“…It is of value to establish how the cadaver preservation method affects the mechanical behaviour of soft tissues, providing insight into the experience the medical student will have and the differences they might expect between training and surgery on living organs [65]. In regard to current preservation process studies, some have looked into the effect of just Thiel on the mechanical properties of soft tissues [66][67][68]; however, formalinpreserved cadavers are still used for medical students' anatomical and surgical training due to their wider availability, lower cost, simpler embalming technique and the little effect it has on the functional anatomical knowledge of students when compared with Thiel [60,65]. Despite this, studies in the literature on the effects of formalin on the material properties of human tissues are few and their findings contradictory [69,70].…”