Formalin-free soft embalming of human cadavers using N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone: perspectives for cadaver surgical training and medical device development

• Published in: Anatomical science international Vol. 97; no. 3; pp. 273 - 282
• Main Authors: Nagase, Miki, Nagase, Takashi, Tokumine, Joho, Saito, Koichiro, Sunami, Eiji, Shiokawa, Yoshiaki, Matsumura, George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.07.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anatomy; Animal Anatomy; Animal Physiology; Cadavers; Cell Biology; Formaldehyde; Histology; Human Physiology; Intubation; Laparoscopy; Medical equipment; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Morphology; N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone; Neurosciences; Review Article; Surgery; Training; Surgical procedures, operative; Medical device; Education; Embalming; Cadaver
• ISSN: 1447-6959; 1447-073X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12565-022-00664-9

The traditional apprenticeship approach to surgical skill education for young surgeons has drastically changed to more systematic surgical training using cadavers. Cadavers fixed with formalin are not suitable for surgical training because of their associated health hazards and overhardening. Recently, we established a formalin-free soft preservation method for human cadavers using N -vinyl-2-pyrrolidone. Since 2012, 61 cadavers have been embalmed with pyrrolidone in our institution. Tissues of pyrrolidone-embalmed cadavers are soft and pliable, and their bodies can be preserved for as long as 37 months without any signs of corruption. In this review, we introduce our recent attempts to apply pyrrolidone-embalmed cadavers in surgical and medical procedure training, including endotracheal intubation, motion physiology of the vocal folds, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic skull base surgery, and development of novel medical devices. Future research perspectives on pyrrolidone embalming are discussed.