TY - JOUR
T1 - Cluster analyses of contemporary embalming protocols in central European anatomy institutions
T2 - A collaborative effort to minimize chemical exposure
AU - Mohebimoushaei, Sara
AU - Antipova, Veronica
AU - Biedermann, Uta
AU - Brand-Saberi, Beate
AU - Braeuer, Lars
AU - Caspers, Svenja
AU - Doll, Sara
AU - Engelhardt, Maren
AU - Filler, Timm J.
AU - Gericke, Martin
AU - Guemuesalan, Yakup
AU - Gundlach, Stefanie
AU - Hayn-Leichsenring, Gregor U.
AU - Heermann, Stephan
AU - Hiepe, Laura
AU - Hirt, Bernhard
AU - Hirtler, Lena
AU - Kulisch, Christoph
AU - Konschake, Marko
AU - Kuerten, Stefanie
AU - Lange, Tobias
AU - Lorenz, Mario
AU - Nassenstein, Christina
AU - Neckel, Peter H.
AU - Nimtschke, Ute
AU - Paulsen, Friedrich
AU - Prescher, Andreas
AU - Pretterklieber, Michael L.
AU - Schmiedl, Andreas
AU - Schumann, Sven
AU - Spindler, Volker
AU - Schulze-Tanzil, Gundula
AU - Tschernig, Thomas
AU - Unverzagt, Axel
AU - Valentiner, Ursula
AU - Varga, Ivan
AU - Wedel, Thilo
AU - Weigner, Janet
AU - Weninger, Wolfgang J.
AU - Westermann, Juergen
AU - Wimmer-Roell, Monika
AU - Waschke, Jens
AU - Hammer, Niels
N1 - Schulze-Tanzil: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg and Salzburg, General Hospital Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - Background: Anatomical embalming forms a mainstay in the provision of teaching materials based on human post-mortem tissues. As a consequence of regulations worldwide to minimize the use of formaldehyde due to its harmful nature, effective measures must be taken to minimize its application in the anatomy laboratory. This study aimed to identify commonalities among embalming protocols used in Austrian, German and Swiss anatomies to reduce formaldehyde usage and provide a foundation for joint accreditation. Methods: Survey data on all procedures, technologies and chemicals related to embalming were collected from 28 participating institutions and analyzed using an automated clustering approach. Special attention was given to chemicals, explosion-proof facilities, and air ventilation technology. After conducting principal component analyses, the data was evaluated using an unsupervised K-means learning algorithm. Results: Six distinct clusters of common chemical usage were identified, namely (1) Thiel embalming with explosion-proof facilities, (2) potassium-and sodium salt-based embalming with downdraft ventilation, (3) ethanol/glycerin/glutaraldehyde/sodium alkyl ether sulphate-based embalming, (4) ethanol-based embalming, (5) formaldehyde-based embalming, and (6) ethanol/phenoxyethanol/alkyl (C12-16) dimethylbenzyl ammoniumchloride-based embalming. All clusters included the use of formaldehyde to varying extent. These clusters demonstrated high stability for fixation, combined fixation and conservation, as well as the incorporation of explosion-proof facilities and air ventilation technology. Moreover, a number of institutions used more than one similar protocol, so-called 'Superclusters', with Clusters (4) and (1) or Clusters (5) and (1) combined being the most common observation. Conclusion: These findings provide a basis for optimizing, streamlining and sharing embalming protocols among central European anatomy institutions.
AB - Background: Anatomical embalming forms a mainstay in the provision of teaching materials based on human post-mortem tissues. As a consequence of regulations worldwide to minimize the use of formaldehyde due to its harmful nature, effective measures must be taken to minimize its application in the anatomy laboratory. This study aimed to identify commonalities among embalming protocols used in Austrian, German and Swiss anatomies to reduce formaldehyde usage and provide a foundation for joint accreditation. Methods: Survey data on all procedures, technologies and chemicals related to embalming were collected from 28 participating institutions and analyzed using an automated clustering approach. Special attention was given to chemicals, explosion-proof facilities, and air ventilation technology. After conducting principal component analyses, the data was evaluated using an unsupervised K-means learning algorithm. Results: Six distinct clusters of common chemical usage were identified, namely (1) Thiel embalming with explosion-proof facilities, (2) potassium-and sodium salt-based embalming with downdraft ventilation, (3) ethanol/glycerin/glutaraldehyde/sodium alkyl ether sulphate-based embalming, (4) ethanol-based embalming, (5) formaldehyde-based embalming, and (6) ethanol/phenoxyethanol/alkyl (C12-16) dimethylbenzyl ammoniumchloride-based embalming. All clusters included the use of formaldehyde to varying extent. These clusters demonstrated high stability for fixation, combined fixation and conservation, as well as the incorporation of explosion-proof facilities and air ventilation technology. Moreover, a number of institutions used more than one similar protocol, so-called 'Superclusters', with Clusters (4) and (1) or Clusters (5) and (1) combined being the most common observation. Conclusion: These findings provide a basis for optimizing, streamlining and sharing embalming protocols among central European anatomy institutions.
KW - Cluster analysis
KW - Conservation
KW - Elbow method
KW - Embalming
KW - Fixation
KW - Formaldehyde
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=pmu_pure&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:001488916500001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL
U2 - 10.1016/j.aanat.2025.152403
DO - 10.1016/j.aanat.2025.152403
M3 - Original Article
C2 - 40118157
SN - 0940-9602
VL - 260
JO - ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
JF - ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
M1 - 152403
ER -