Comparison of fresh and Thiel's embalmed cadavers according to the suitability for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia of the cervical region

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Date publication

août 2009

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr LADOIRE Sylvain


Tous les auteurs :
Benkhadra M, Faust A, Ladoire S, Trost O, Trouilloud P, Girard C, Anderhuber F, Feigl G

Résumé

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound-guided punctures are a new technique in anesthesia. However, training in these techniques requires conditions resembling real life as far as possible for learning purposes. Several models are available, but none associates realistic anatomy and lifelike sensations of the passage of fascias. The aim of our study was to compare fresh and Thiel's embalmed cadavers for ultrasound-guided punctures. METHODS: Eight fresh cadavers and eight Thiel's embalmed cadavers were investigated. The cervical region was scanned with an ultrasound probe. Age, sex and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Visibility of he structures, including sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle, anterior and middle scalene muscles, thyroid gland, nerve and the needle, was evaluated as 0 (not visible or bad visibility) or 1 (good visibility). The feeling ("pop") of passing the fascias was noted as 0 (not felt) or 1 (felt). The possibility of nerve displacement with the needle, the difficulty of intraneural injection and the possibility of nerve penetration and nerve swelling were all recorded as 0 (not possible) or 1 (possible). RESULTS: The two groups were comparable in terms of sex, age and BMI. Visibility of the SCM muscle and the needle was better in the Thiel group. Moreover, the "pop" feeling and nerve swelling were significantly more frequently present in the Thiel group. There was no significant difference in terms of the other results between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cadavers embalmed according to Thiel's method should be recommended for ultrasound-guided punctures as a realistic and lifelike model.

Référence

Surg Radiol Anat. 2009 Aug;31(7):531-5