Cluster analyses of contemporary embalming protocols in central European anatomy institutions: A collaborative effort to minimize chemical exposure

Mohebimoushaei S, Antipova V, Biedermann U, Brand-Saberi B, Bräuer L, Caspers S, Doll S, Engelhardt M, Filler TJ, Gericke M, Gümüsalan Y, Gundlach S, Hayn-Leichsenring GU, Heermann S, Hiepe L, Hirt B, Hirtler L, Kulisch C, Konschake M, Kürten S, Lange T, Lorenz M, Nassenstein C, Neckel PH, Nimtschke U, Paulsen F, Prescher A, Pretterklieber ML, Schmiedl A, Schumann S, Spindler V, Schulze-Tanzil G, Tschernig T, Unverzagt A, Valentiner U, Varga I, Wedel T, Weigner J, Weninger WJ, Westermann J, Wimmer-Roell M, Waschke J, Hammer N (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Book Volume: 260

Article Number: 152403

DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2025.152403

Abstract

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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) Germany (DE) Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Nürnberg Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes (UKS) Germany (DE) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Germany (DE) Comenius University Bratislava Slovakia (SK) Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel Germany (DE) Freie Universität Berlin Germany (DE) Medizinische Universität Wien Austria (AT) Universität zu Lübeck Germany (DE) Johannes Kepler Universität (JKU) Linz Austria (AT) Medizinische Universität Graz Austria (AT) Universitätsklinikum Jena Germany (DE) Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf Germany (DE) Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg Germany (DE) Universität Leipzig Germany (DE) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Germany (DE) Universitätsmedizin Rostock Germany (DE) Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen Germany (DE) Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Germany (DE) Medizinische Universität Innsbruck Austria (AT) Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Germany (DE) Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden Germany (DE) Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen Germany (DE) Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH) / Hannover Medical School Germany (DE) Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Mohebimoushaei, S., Antipova, V., Biedermann, U., Brand-Saberi, B., Bräuer, L., Caspers, S.,... Hammer, N. (2025). Cluster analyses of contemporary embalming protocols in central European anatomy institutions: A collaborative effort to minimize chemical exposure. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2025.152403

MLA:

Mohebimoushaei, Sara, et al. "Cluster analyses of contemporary embalming protocols in central European anatomy institutions: A collaborative effort to minimize chemical exposure." Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger 260 (2025).

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