Efficacy of urea solution reperfusion to a formalin-embalmed cadaver for surgical skills training

Formaldehyde has been traditionally used for embalming human cadavers for gross anatomy education and surgical skills training. However, exposure to formaldehyde negatively affects human health. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of reperfusing urea solution to a formalin-embalmed cadaver for surgical skills training and then investigate the cadaver’s tissue elasticity alteration after being soaked into the urea solution. Twelve surgeons evaluated the similarity of tissue characteristics between the cadaver (embalmed by formalin solution and reperfused by urea solution) and a living human body. Furthermore, the tissue formaldehyde content and mechanical properties of the formalin-fixated femoral skin and artery specimens with or without soaking into urea solution were measured. Results showed that the tactile assessment, skin incision, vessel ligation and suture, and decollement were better and more useful in the cadaver reperfused by urea solution than in the cadaver merely fixated by formalin solution. In the urea-reperfused cadaver, the volatilized, or tissue formaldehyde levels declined. The stiffness and Young’s modulus of the femoral skin and artery were also lower in the specimen than in the mere formalin-fixated specimen. In conclusion, reperfusion of urea solution to the formalin-fixated cadaver makes anatomical education and surgical skills training more efficient with fewer requirements for cadaver management.