Bronchoscopy and cricothyrotomy: results from cadavers embalmed with Thiel’s method compared to other embalming methods and living subjects

Bronhoskopija in krikotirotomija: primerjava Thielove fiksirne metode z ostalimi metodami fiksacije

  • Georg Feigl Institute of Anatomy, Medical University Graz Austria
  • Mehdi Benkhadra Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hospital Le Bocage, Teaching Hospital, Dijon, France. Laboratory of Anatomy, University of Burgundy, Dijon; France.
  • François Lenfant Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hôspital Général, Teaching Hospital, Dijon, France.
  • Pierre Trouilloud Laboratory of Anatomy, University of Burgundy, Dijon; France.
  • Friedrich Anderhuber Institute of Anatomy, Medical University Graz, Austria
  • Philippe Bonniaud Respiratory Department, Hôspital Le Bocage, Teaching Hospital, Dijon, France
  • Jean HD Fasel Division of Anatomy; Department of Morphology, University of Geneva; Switzerland
  • Wolfgang Nemetz Departments of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Medical University Graz, Austria.
Keywords: Thiel’s method, coniotomy, bronchoscopy, embalming method, cricothyrotomy

Abstract

Purpose: Cricothyrotomy and bronchoscopy were performed on cadavers embalmed according to Thiel’s method, and the results compared with findings from other types of cadavers and living subjects, to assess the suitability of such specimens for medical teaching and research.

Methods: Blind cricothyrotomy was performed in 40 cadavers using two different devices (Cook and Portex sets) on each of 20 cadavers and the procedures were recorded by a monitoring fibreoptic bronchoscope placed in the larynx. Bronchoscopy was performed on another 22 cadavers. All procedures were videotaped and evaluated by board certified anatomists and anaesthetists. Tissue behaviour, ligament resistance, palpability of anatomical structures, mucosal colour and cadaver flexibility, especially during jaw thrust and tongue lift, were evaluated and qualitatively compared to conditions found in the living and to reports of studies using specimens embalmed with the classic formalin method. Where the procedures caused mucosal lesions, the damaged was assessed during subsequent dissection.

Results: The cadavers were life-like in all criteria evaluated. Portex and Cook cricothyrotomy was feasible in all cases. Bronchoscopy was feasible in all cadavers without difficulty. Jaw thrust and tongue lift was never limited and lobar bronchi were always reached. Further advancement was limited in half of the cases by either the preservation liquid or the diameter of the segmental bronchi; in the remaining half, advancement into the smaller airways was limited only by their diameter.

Conclusion: Cadavers fixed according to Thiel’s method are highly useable, life-like specimens for teaching and researching cricothyrotomy and bronchoscopy. The data obtained are transferable to the living, so research findings should be valid and teaching effective.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Georg Feigl, Institute of Anatomy, Medical University Graz Austria

Dr. Georg Feigl, Graz, Austria. E-Mail: georg.feigl@meduni-graz.at

Mehdi Benkhadra, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hospital Le Bocage, Teaching Hospital, Dijon, France. Laboratory of Anatomy, University of Burgundy, Dijon; France.

Mehdi Benkhadra, Dijon, France.

François Lenfant, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hôspital Général, Teaching Hospital, Dijon, France.

François Lenfant, Dijon, France.

Pierre Trouilloud, Laboratory of Anatomy, University of Burgundy, Dijon; France.

Pierre Trouilloud, Paris, France.

Friedrich Anderhuber, Institute of Anatomy, Medical University Graz, Austria

Friedrich Anderhuber, Graz, Austria.

Philippe Bonniaud, Respiratory Department, Hôspital Le Bocage, Teaching Hospital, Dijon, France

Philippe Bonniaud, Dijon, France.

Jean HD Fasel, Division of Anatomy; Department of Morphology, University of Geneva; Switzerland

Jean HD Fasel, Geneva, Switzerland.

Wolfgang Nemetz, Departments of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Medical University Graz, Austria.

Wolfgang Nemetz, Graz, Austria.

Published
2021-09-18
How to Cite
Feigl G., Benkhadra M., Lenfant F., Trouilloud P., Anderhuber F., Bonniaud P., Fasel J. H., & Nemetz W. (2021). Bronchoscopy and cricothyrotomy: results from cadavers embalmed with Thiel’s method compared to other embalming methods and living subjects. Acta Medico-Biotechnica, 1(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.18690/actabiomed.5
Section
Articles