Background: Dissection laboratory is the onlyplace where the three dimensional structure ofthe human body is reinforced by visual, audi-tory and tactile pathways. Cadavers are mainteaching tools in Anatomy and are handled bythe staff and students routinely. Very often thecadavers enbalmed by various chemicals are noteffective in inhibiting growth of fungi, bacte-ria, maggots etc. To date limited studies havebeen carried out to overcome this problemhence this study was undertaken to find out safeand effective enbalming fluid. Aims and Ob-jectives: The main object of the present studyis to provide a composition of body-preserva-tion fluid which is effective in preventing de-composition of cadavers, maintaining a desiredlife-like appearance of the body which is nonhazardous for dissection and environmentallysafe. It was observed that chemical composi-tion of the embalming fluid was very effectivein prevention of growth of bacteria, fungus andalso decay and discoloration. Results: Thisstudy was carried out in the department ofAnatomy, Goa Medical College Bambolim Goa(India) from the year 2006 to 2011. Total 100cadavers were embalmed with the followingcomposition of the embalming fluid. It wasobserved that the solution in tanks where intactbodies were preserved was clear without anyfungus form a period of 5 years whereas thedissected cadavers were kept separately alsocontaining 10 percent formalin showed mini-mal growth of fungus after 12 months and thesolution was replaced after 12 months. Con-clusions: In our present study the tank contain-ing undissected cadavers has not shown anygrowth of fungus for a period of 5 years. Rou-tine dissected parts showed fungal growth onlyafter 12 months, whereupon the scum was re-moved and the tank solution replaced. The ar-terial fluid was red in colour and could be dif-ferentiated from cavity fluid. The cadavers werefree from growth of fungus and maggots dur-ing their entire first MBBS course. Not only isthis the most cost effective method of bodypreservation, it also has the added advantage ofbeing environmentally safe for the staff and stu-dents, who would otherwise be exposed toharmful bacteria and fungi on a regular basisduring routine dissection.
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