Abstract
The injection of cadaver brains is invaluable for anatomic study, but cadavers that have been properly handled are not easy to obtain. A large number of cadavers pass through forensic departments around the world, and these cadavers could provide hundreds of research specimens, though they remain in the forensic unit for only a short time. The injection of a silicone mixture that quickly solidifies during autopsy would provide greater numbers of fresh specimens for study. The authors describe a technique for injecting a self-curing silicone mixture that can be used on autopsy specimens in a forensic unit. This technique does not interfere with routine autopsy findings. We describe the preparation of the mixture and autopsy specimens, the injection process, and the method for removing injected brains from cadavers. The solidifying process took a 1-h duration in this injection method and was in accord with autopsy procedure. The arterial bed was satisfactorily filled, and even small perforating branches and pial anastomoses were well demonstrated. Injecting autopsy specimens with the quick-solidifying silicone mixture allows anatomical studies of specimens even from cadavers admitted to forensic departments for only a short time. This method can provide neurosurgery laboratories with sufficient numbers of specimens appropriate for various studies.
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Acknowledgement
The authors have no personal or institutional financial interest in the materials or devices described in this article. We are indebted to the TGC Dizayn Company, which designed, provided, and clarified the mixture used in this study.
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David Rojas-Zalazar, Jorge Mura, Evandro de Oliveira, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kaya and co-workers present their experience in quick-solidifying silicone mixture for injecting brains for autopsy. The dissemination of this kind of technique is of paramount importance in our literature to engage people to install a neuroanatomy lab. Unfortunately, nowadays many centers in Europe and America have great problems to get cadaveric specimens for teaching. The author’s proposed technique uses a catalyst to reduce the time needed to solidify to about 1 h, without interference with the autopsy procedure. The results in terms of filling of small perforators or pial anastomoses are similar to conventional techniques. In our center, we started to use a similar protocol with a rapid catalyst, in the cases when we could not get the head for injection. All the supplies can be purchased from a swimming-pool paint dealer. In those cases, after clot removal, we injected fresh brain once removed from the head by one of our staff. The injection is done in the subdural carotid artery after cannulation of both carotids and vertebral trunks. A critical point during the injection is to obliterate distal points of leak to maintain constant injection pressure. For that, we use a bipolar to coagulate small ruptured branches. The major pitfall of this technique is the impossibility to inject the venous system. Finally, to get a good injection requires time and experience. Trial and error still continues to be an important ally. In conclusion, the author’s contribution may be helpful in the setting of limited head specimen availability, with good injection results.
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Kaya, A.H., Sam, B., Celik, F. et al. A quick-solidifying, coloured silicone mixture for injecting into brains for autopsy: technical report. Neurosurg Rev 29, 322–326 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-006-0032-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-006-0032-x