Zinc Chloride Embalming Technique and Silicone Plastination

Abstract

INTRODUCTION It is known that formol and fenol vapours are irritants to airways and eyes. Personal health of the technician and students and efficiency considerations led to the adaptation of the embalming technique 5 years ago. Since 2000, the anatomy institute has embalmed 150 cadavers using the adapted zinc chloride embalming technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS The embalming solution contains 10 litre Zinc Chloride® and 100 ml Arthyl®. Embalming starts with the injection of fluid through the femoral artery. A pump is fitted to the canule and the solution is pumped into the cadaver in four hours. Five months after embalming, a cadaver was dissected and several organs and tissues were removed and prepared for plastination using the S10® Silicone technique. RESULTS The joints of the cadavers are more flexible than the joints of the cadavers embalmed with formol and fenol, natural colours are preserved and odour is low. The microscopic morphology of tissues removed one year post mortem, is comparable to the microscopic morphology of specimens at the moment of embalming. The embalmed specimens were compatible with acetone dehydration for plastination. The plastinated specimens of the pharynx, foot, a section of the lower limb, two kidneys, spleen, liver, lung, knee, cerebrum, cerebellum, part of the chest wall, testis and two hand specimens, retained their natural colour and macroscopic morphology. CONCLUSION The zinc chloride embalmed cadavers are used for anatomical research and education. It is possible to plastinate specimens removed from a zinc chloride embalmed cadaver using the Silicone plastination technique.