At the Quillen College of Medicine, first year medical students are taught how to perform the female pelvic exam as part of the “Introduction to Physical Exam” course. Our previous research has found that students feel more confident and report a higher level of perceived transferability to live patients when learning the pelvic exam on soft-embalmed donors in comparison to low-fidelity mannequins. Our goal in this project was to incorporate soft-embalmed donors into the curriculum of first year medical students, making this teaching method available to all students, and objectively assess their skills as well as their retention. During the “Introduction to Physical Exam” course, high fidelity soft embalmed donors were available for students to practice the female pelvic exam with instruction from attending physicians. After learning exam techniques, all 67 students were given a survey to assess their confidence, perceived transferability, and preference for either soft embalmed donors or mannequins. They were also invited back the following week to assess their short term retention and ability to accurately perform the pelvic exam, with the option of using communication skills learned elsewhere in the ETSU curriculum. Thirteen students returned for this follow-up session and completed surveys to reassess their experience. We plan to follow this cohort of students throughout their medical school career to assess long term retention. All return participants felt they retained the pelvic exam knowledge learned the week prior, with 61.54% agreeing, and 38.46% strongly agreeing. Most felt prepared to now do a pelvic exam on a live patient (53.85% agreed, 38.46% strongly agreed). Students also reported that feedback on their communication and procedural skills was beneficial to the learning process. The use of high fidelity soft embalmed donors in medical education provides students with a realistic model to learn and become confident in performing pelvic exams. We have seen that this education model helps them retain their knowledge on pelvic exam technique. We look forward to following this cohort of students to see if this retention of knowledge persists into their third year of medical school.

This research study analyses the construction of meaning surrounding the embalmed corpse in contemporary England. It documents a process of social change in which Legal, Medical and Religious discourses concerning the dead, once dominant and unchallenged, now co-exist, if somewhat uneasily, with modern constructions of death and the possibility of an after life. The meaning of the embalmed corpse is considered to be constructed by different elements which are presented historically. Initially religious discourses governed the meaning of the body, which was preserved for religious reasons. 17th century surgeon-embalmers requisitioned the corpse for reasons of status assertion, presenting their arguments in medical terms. Contemporary hygiene issues, in tandem with legal issues, today have a powerful impact on the corpse, which is usually experienced by mourners in the context of contemporary consumer culture, after the process of embalming has occurred. The decline of religious practices also mean that the contemporary corpse has assumed a far greater significance than in the past. From the perspective of the sociology of the body, based on the seminal work of Turner, this thesis discusses how changing experiences of live bodies are inextricably linked with changing experience of dead bodies in contemporary societies. This is accomplished through an interpretation of the different meaning attributed to embalmed corpses, together with an appreciation of the work of Hertz and Van Gennep, both of whom identified, in pre-literate societies, the centrality and embeddedness of the treatment of the corpse to funeral rituals. The thesis reports some empirical investigations of embalming-related issues which provide an analysis of contemporary meanings of the corpse and cast light upon the contemporary structure of the English funeral world. Embalmers expect to produce a culturally acceptable ‘death disguise’ for the benefit of mourners whose encounters with the corpse are surprisingly numerous in contemporary death-denying society. Culturally acceptable death images appear to focus upon the dead being in a condition of 'liminal repose', where the illusion of rest is constructed. Embalmers and funeral directors comprise occupations that are quite distinct, although working with the dead in different parts of the same process. Highlighting the significance of corpse appearance, whereby it is rendered 'normal', has also highlighted the socio-cultural process whereby this transformation occurs. As the dead are carefully re-presented, this has hidden the 'true' condition of the dead and therefore also hidden the covert technicians, embalmers, who accomplish this transformation. Embalming therefore appears a hidden aspect of the social construction of the dead, as death is now estranged from the popular context.

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As habilidades psicomotoras são fundamentais para conduzir de forma adequada e segura um procedimento videocirúrgico. A cirurgia laparoscópica difere da cirurgia tradicional, pois o cirurgião deve guiar suas manobras em um ambiente tri-dimensional, através de imagem bi-dimensional, é privado da sensação táctil direta com os tecidos e necessita adquirir coordenação motora para a utilização de um novo tipo de instrumental cirúrgico. Faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento de modelos de treinamento factíveis para a formação de cirurgiões laparoscópicos, que simulem adequadamente as situações vivenciadas na sala de operação. Esta pesquisa objetivou desenvolver um modelo de cadáver de coelho embalsamado, utilizando a solução de Larssen modificada, para treinamento em quatro procedimentos laparoscópicos: colecistectomia, nefrectomia, esplenectomia e criptorquidectomia. Foram utilizados 17 coelhos de diferentes raças, submetidos a dois procedimentos cirúrgicos cada um. Destes, 15 foram eutanasiados, embalsamados e criopreservados. Após uma semana, os animais foram descongelados em caixa plástica com água aquecida a 40ºC e utilizados no treinamento de um cirurgião sem experiência prévia em videocirurgia. Dois coelhos foram operados vivos, sob anestesia geral inalatória, ao final da fase de treinamento, para verificar a capacidade do cirurgião em realizar as quatro técnicas laparoscópicas citadas, sem ocorrência de complicações significativas, sendo estes animais eutanasiados ao final dos procedimentos. Os cadáveres de coelhos mantiveram suas características teciduais semelhantes àquelas encontradas em um animal vivo. A coloração dos tecidos e órgãos abdominais foi bastante similar ao verificado in vivo, enquanto o odor variou entre leve e moderado e a textura variou entre normal e friável. A imersão dos cadáveres em água aquecida foi efetiva para alcançar o descongelamento completo, com mínima interferência da temperatura ambiente, tendo duração de quatro a cinco horas. O modelo experimental proposto neste estudo apresentou boas condições para execução e treinamento de colecistectomia laparoscópica, nefrectomia total laparoscópica e criptorquidectomia laparoscópica. As condições encontradas na cavidade abdominal dos coelhos embalsamados não foram satisfatórias para a prática adequada de esplenectomia laparoscópica, pela dificuldade em estabelecer boa visualização e manipulação do baço. / Psychomotor skills are essential to correctly and safely conduct endoscopic surgical procedures. Laparoscopic surgery differs from traditional surgery because the surgeon must guide his maneuvers in a tri-dimensional environment, through a bi-dimensional image, he’s deprived of direct tactile sensation with the tissues and needs to acquire motor coordination to use a new type of surgical instruments. Its necessary feasible experimental models to train laparoscopic surgeons, which properly simulates the situations experienced in the operation room. This research aims at proposing a embalmed rabbit cadaver model, prepared with the modified Larssen solution, for training in four laparoscopic procedures: cholecystectomy, nephrectomy, splenectomy, cryptorchidectomy. Seventeen rabbits from different breeds were used, each undergoing two surgical procedures. Of these, 15 were euthanized, embalmed and cryopreservated. After one week, they were thawed in a plastic box with water heated to 40ºC and used in the training of a surgeon with no previous experience with endoscopic surgery. Two rabbits underwent surgery under general anesthesia with a volatile agent, at the end of the training step, to check the surgeon’s ability to perform the four mentioned laparoscopic techniques, without the occurrence of major complications, both being euthanized at the end of the procedures. The rabbit cadavers kept tissues properties similar to those found in a living animal. The color of the abdominal tissues and organs was very close to that verified in vivo, although odor tended from slight to moderate and consistency tended from normal to friable. The cadavers immersion in heated water was effective to completely thaw then, with minimum interference of room temperature, within four to five hours. The experimental model proposed in this study presented valuable conditions to perform and train laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic total nephrectomy and laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy. The state of the abdominal cavity found in the embalmed rabbits was unsatisfactory for suitable practice of laparoscopic splenectomy, because of the difficulty in establishing good visualization and manipulation of the spleen.

As habilidades psicomotoras são fundamentais para conduzir de forma adequada e segura um procedimento videocirúrgico. A cirurgia laparoscópica difere da cirurgia tradicional, pois o cirurgião deve guiar suas manobras em um ambiente tri-dimensional, através de imagem bi-dimensional, é privado da sensação táctil direta com os tecidos e necessita adquirir coordenação motora para a utilização de um novo tipo de instrumental cirúrgico. Faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento de modelos de treinamento factíveis para a formação de cirurgiões laparoscópicos, que simulem adequadamente as situações vivenciadas na sala de operação. Esta pesquisa objetivou desenvolver um modelo de cadáver de coelho embalsamado, utilizando a solução de Larssen modificada, para treinamento em quatro procedimentos laparoscópicos: colecistectomia, nefrectomia, esplenectomia e criptorquidectomia. Foram utilizados 17 coelhos de diferentes raças, submetidos a dois procedimentos cirúrgicos cada um. Destes, 15 foram eutanasiados, embalsamados e criopreservados. Após uma semana, os animais foram descongelados em caixa plástica com água aquecida a 40ºC e utilizados no treinamento de um cirurgião sem experiência prévia em videocirurgia. Dois coelhos foram operados vivos, sob anestesia geral inalatória, ao final da fase de treinamento, para verificar a capacidade do cirurgião em realizar as quatro técnicas laparoscópicas citadas, sem ocorrência de complicações significativas, sendo estes animais eutanasiados ao final dos procedimentos. Os cadáveres de coelhos mantiveram suas características teciduais semelhantes àquelas encontradas em um animal vivo. A coloração dos tecidos e órgãos abdominais foi bastante similar ao verificado in vivo, enquanto o odor variou entre leve e moderado e a textura variou entre normal e friável. A imersão dos cadáveres em água aquecida foi efetiva para alcançar o descongelamento completo, com mínima interferência da temperatura ambiente, tendo duração de quatro a cinco horas. O modelo experimental proposto neste estudo apresentou boas condições para execução e treinamento de colecistectomia laparoscópica, nefrectomia total laparoscópica e criptorquidectomia laparoscópica. As condições encontradas na cavidade abdominal dos coelhos embalsamados não foram satisfatórias para a prática adequada de esplenectomia laparoscópica, pela dificuldade em estabelecer boa visualização e manipulação do baço. / Psychomotor skills are essential to correctly and safely conduct endoscopic surgical procedures. Laparoscopic surgery differs from traditional surgery because the surgeon must guide his maneuvers in a tri-dimensional environment, through a bi-dimensional image, he’s deprived of direct tactile sensation with the tissues and needs to acquire motor coordination to use a new type of surgical instruments. Its necessary feasible experimental models to train laparoscopic surgeons, which properly simulates the situations experienced in the operation room. This research aims at proposing a embalmed rabbit cadaver model, prepared with the modified Larssen solution, for training in four laparoscopic procedures: cholecystectomy, nephrectomy, splenectomy, cryptorchidectomy. Seventeen rabbits from different breeds were used, each undergoing two surgical procedures. Of these, 15 were euthanized, embalmed and cryopreservated. After one week, they were thawed in a plastic box with water heated to 40ºC and used in the training of a surgeon with no previous experience with endoscopic surgery. Two rabbits underwent surgery under general anesthesia with a volatile agent, at the end of the training step, to check the surgeon’s ability to perform the four mentioned laparoscopic techniques, without the occurrence of major complications, both being euthanized at the end of the procedures. The rabbit cadavers kept tissues properties similar to those found in a living animal. The color of the abdominal tissues and organs was very close to that verified in vivo, although odor tended from slight to moderate and consistency tended from normal to friable. The cadavers immersion in heated water was effective to completely thaw then, with minimum interference of room temperature, within four to five hours. The experimental model proposed in this study presented valuable conditions to perform and train laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic total nephrectomy and laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy. The state of the abdominal cavity found in the embalmed rabbits was unsatisfactory for suitable practice of laparoscopic splenectomy, because of the difficulty in establishing good visualization and manipulation of the spleen.

As habilidades psicomotoras são fundamentais para conduzir de forma adequada e segura um procedimento videocirúrgico. A cirurgia laparoscópica difere da cirurgia tradicional, pois o cirurgião deve guiar suas manobras em um ambiente tri-dimensional, através de imagem bi-dimensional, é privado da sensação táctil direta com os tecidos e necessita adquirir coordenação motora para a utilização de um novo tipo de instrumental cirúrgico. Faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento de modelos de treinamento factíveis para a formação de cirurgiões laparoscópicos, que simulem adequadamente as situações vivenciadas na sala de operação. Esta pesquisa objetivou desenvolver um modelo de cadáver de coelho embalsamado, utilizando a solução de Larssen modificada, para treinamento em quatro procedimentos laparoscópicos: colecistectomia, nefrectomia, esplenectomia e criptorquidectomia. Foram utilizados 17 coelhos de diferentes raças, submetidos a dois procedimentos cirúrgicos cada um. Destes, 15 foram eutanasiados, embalsamados e criopreservados. Após uma semana, os animais foram descongelados em caixa plástica com água aquecida a 40ºC e utilizados no treinamento de um cirurgião sem experiência prévia em videocirurgia. Dois coelhos foram operados vivos, sob anestesia geral inalatória, ao final da fase de treinamento, para verificar a capacidade do cirurgião em realizar as quatro técnicas laparoscópicas citadas, sem ocorrência de complicações significativas, sendo estes animais eutanasiados ao final dos procedimentos. Os cadáveres de coelhos mantiveram suas características teciduais semelhantes àquelas encontradas em um animal vivo. A coloração dos tecidos e órgãos abdominais foi bastante similar ao verificado in vivo, enquanto o odor variou entre leve e moderado e a textura variou entre normal e friável. A imersão dos cadáveres em água aquecida foi efetiva para alcançar o descongelamento completo, com mínima interferência da temperatura ambiente, tendo duração de quatro a cinco horas. O modelo experimental proposto neste estudo apresentou boas condições para execução e treinamento de colecistectomia laparoscópica, nefrectomia total laparoscópica e criptorquidectomia laparoscópica. As condições encontradas na cavidade abdominal dos coelhos embalsamados não foram satisfatórias para a prática adequada de esplenectomia laparoscópica, pela dificuldade em estabelecer boa visualização e manipulação do baço. / Psychomotor skills are essential to correctly and safely conduct endoscopic surgical procedures. Laparoscopic surgery differs from traditional surgery because the surgeon must guide his maneuvers in a tri-dimensional environment, through a bi-dimensional image, he’s deprived of direct tactile sensation with the tissues and needs to acquire motor coordination to use a new type of surgical instruments. Its necessary feasible experimental models to train laparoscopic surgeons, which properly simulates the situations experienced in the operation room. This research aims at proposing a embalmed rabbit cadaver model, prepared with the modified Larssen solution, for training in four laparoscopic procedures: cholecystectomy, nephrectomy, splenectomy, cryptorchidectomy. Seventeen rabbits from different breeds were used, each undergoing two surgical procedures. Of these, 15 were euthanized, embalmed and cryopreservated. After one week, they were thawed in a plastic box with water heated to 40ºC and used in the training of a surgeon with no previous experience with endoscopic surgery. Two rabbits underwent surgery under general anesthesia with a volatile agent, at the end of the training step, to check the surgeon’s ability to perform the four mentioned laparoscopic techniques, without the occurrence of major complications, both being euthanized at the end of the procedures. The rabbit cadavers kept tissues properties similar to those found in a living animal. The color of the abdominal tissues and organs was very close to that verified in vivo, although odor tended from slight to moderate and consistency tended from normal to friable. The cadavers immersion in heated water was effective to completely thaw then, with minimum interference of room temperature, within four to five hours. The experimental model proposed in this study presented valuable conditions to perform and train laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic total nephrectomy and laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy. The state of the abdominal cavity found in the embalmed rabbits was unsatisfactory for suitable practice of laparoscopic splenectomy, because of the difficulty in establishing good visualization and manipulation of the spleen.