Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy
Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 7/2009

01-08-2009 | Original Article

Comparison of fresh and Thiel’s embalmed cadavers according to the suitability for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia of the cervical region

Authors: Mehdi Benkhadra, Alexandre Faust, Sylvain Ladoire, Olivier Trost, Pierre Trouilloud, Claude Girard, Friedrich Anderhuber, Georg Feigl

Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy | Issue 7/2009

Login to get access

Abstract

Introduction

Ultrasound-guided punctures are a new technique in anesthesia. However, training in these techniques requires conditions resembling real life as far as possible for learning purposes. Several models are available, but none associates realistic anatomy and lifelike sensations of the passage of fascias. The aim of our study was to compare fresh and Thiel’s embalmed cadavers for ultrasound-guided punctures.

Methods

Eight fresh cadavers and eight Thiel’s embalmed cadavers were investigated. The cervical region was scanned with an ultrasound probe. Age, sex and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Visibility of he structures, including sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle, anterior and middle scalene muscles, thyroid gland, nerve and the needle, was evaluated as 0 (not visible or bad visibility) or 1 (good visibility). The feeling (“pop”) of passing the fascias was noted as 0 (not felt) or 1 (felt). The possibility of nerve displacement with the needle, the difficulty of intraneural injection and the possibility of nerve penetration and nerve swelling were all recorded as 0 (not possible) or 1 (possible).

Results

The two groups were comparable in terms of sex, age and BMI. Visibility of the SCM muscle and the needle was better in the Thiel group. Moreover, the “pop” feeling and nerve swelling were significantly more frequently present in the Thiel group. There was no significant difference in terms of the other results between the two groups.

Conclusions

Cadavers embalmed according to Thiel’s method should be recommended for ultrasound-guided punctures as a realistic and lifelike model.
Literature
1.
Alberty J, Filler TJ, Schmal F et al (2002) Thiel method fixed cadaver ears: a new procedure for graduate and continuing education in middle ear surgery. HNO 50(8):739–742PubMedCrossRef
2.
Benkhadra M, Lenfant F, Nemetz W et al (2008) A comparison of two emergency cricothyroidotomy kits in human cadavers. Anesth Analg 106(1):182–185PubMedCrossRef
3.
Chantzi C, Saranteas T, Paraskeuopoulos T et al (2007) Ultrasound and transcutaneous neurostimulator combined technique as a training method for nerve identification in anesthesia residents. Reg Anesth Pain Med 32(4):365–366PubMed
4.
Dessieux T, Estebe JP, Bloc S et al (2008) Evaluation of the learning curve of residents in localizing a phantom target with ultrasonography. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 27(10):797–801PubMed
5.
Di Domenico S, Santori G, Porcile E et al (2007) Inexpensive homemade models for ultrasound-guided vein cannulation training. J Clin Anesth 19(7):491–496PubMedCrossRef
6.
Feigl G, Fuchs A, Gries M et al (2006) A supraomohyoidal plexus block designed to avoid complications. Surg Radiol Anat 28(4):403–408PubMedCrossRef
7.
Feigl G, Anderhuber F, Schwarz G et al (2007) Training methods for regional anaesthesia: evaluation and comparison. Anaesthesist 56(5):437–443PubMedCrossRef
8.
Feigl GC, Anderhuber F, Dorn C et al (2007) Modified lateral block of the suprascapular nerve: a safe approach and how much to inject? A morphological study. Reg Anesth Pain Med 32(6):488–494PubMed
9.
Peschaud F, Malafosse R, Floch-Prigent PL et al (2006) Anatomical bases of prolonged ilio-inguinal-hypogastric regional anesthesia. Surg Radiol Anat (Germany) 28(5):511–517
10.
Peuker ET, Werkmeister R, Pera F et al (2001) Surgical procedures in mouth, jaw and facial surgery in Thiel embalmed body donors. Mund Kiefer Gesichtschir 5(2):141–143PubMedCrossRef
11.
Pollard BA (2008) New model for learning ultrasound-guided needle to target localization. Reg Anesth Pain Med 33:360–362PubMed
12.
Schwarz G, Feigl G, Kleinert R et al (2002) Pneumatic pulse simulation for teaching peripheral plexus blocks in cadavers. Anesth Analg 95(6):1822–1823PubMedCrossRef
13.
Terkamp C, Reindell H, Manns M et al (2005) Improvement of ultrasound education by simulator training. Praxis 94(9):329–332 (Bern 1994)PubMedCrossRef
14.
Thiel W (1992) An arterial substance for subsequent injection during the preservation of the whole corpse. Ann Anat 174(3):197–200PubMed
15.
Thiel W (1992) The preservation of the whole corpse with natural color. Ann Anat 174(3):185–195PubMed
16.
Thiel W (2002) Supplement to the conservation of an entire cadaver according to W. Thiel. Ann Anat 184(3):267–269PubMedCrossRef
17.
Tsui BC, Dillane D, Walji AH et al (2007) Cadaveric ultrasound imaging for training in ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks: upper extremity. Can J Anaesth 54(5):392–396PubMedCrossRef
18.
Tsui B, Dillane D, Pillay J et al (2008) Ultrasound imaging in cadavers: training in imaging for regional blockade at the trunk. Can J Anaesth 55(2):105–111PubMedCrossRef
19.
van Geffen GJ, Rettig HC, Koornwinder T et al (2007) Ultrasound-guided training in the performance of brachial plexus block by the posterior approach: an observational study. Anaesthesia 62(10):1024–1028PubMedCrossRef
20.
Wolff KD, Kesting M, Mucke T et al (2008) Thiel embalming technique: a valuable method for microvascular exercise and teaching of flap raising. Microsurgery 28(4):273–278PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Comparison of fresh and Thiel’s embalmed cadavers according to the suitability for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia of the cervical region
Authors
Mehdi Benkhadra
Alexandre Faust
Sylvain Ladoire
Olivier Trost
Pierre Trouilloud
Claude Girard
Friedrich Anderhuber
Georg Feigl
Publication date
01-08-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy / Issue 7/2009
Print ISSN: 0930-1038
Electronic ISSN: 1279-8517
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0477-z

Other articles of this Issue 7/2009

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 7/2009 Go to the issue

Original Article

Anatomical assessment of bile ducts of Luschka in human fetuses

Original Article

Mechanics of crural fascia: from anatomy to constitutive modelling

Original Article

Longitudinal striae of the human fornix: shape, relations and variations

Letter to the Editor

Reply from the author to the letter to the editor about the article ‘branching patterns of the popliteal artery and its clinical importance’

Letter to the Editor

Anatomical insight into the normal and abnormal branching pattern of the popliteal artery

Original Article

Cricoid cartilage and esophagus: CT scan study of the dynamic variability of their relative positions