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Training a Sophisticated Microsurgical Technique: Interposition of External Jugular Vein Graft in the Common Carotid Artery in Rats
Published on: November 11, 2012
Challenges associated with vascular access through the common carotid artery during embalming procedures in humans: a
Zygmunt A Domagała1, Mateusz Mazurek2, Oskar Kozłowski2
1Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland. zygmunt.domagala@umed.wroc.pl.
Background:
The teaching of anatomy is a key component in the training of physicians, and the foundation of this teaching is the human body, which must be properly prepared to be used as a teaching aid. Due to a lack of modern literature on this topic, we decided to write a technical note discussing access to the carotid artery.
Materials And Methods:
We pre-qualified 43 donor bodies for the study. The bodies had to meet standards such as no signs of post-mortem decomposition, preservation of body integrity, and the absence of known infections. Carotid artery access was performed based on descriptions of the types of vascular access performed in surgery and our own observations.
Results:
We consider carotid artery access to be a convenient option due to its ease of location. When performed correctly and with attention to the surrounding structures, it is relatively low in tissue trauma, which translates into a higher quality of preparation. Data analysis has revealed several factors that can have a significant impact on the success of the embalming procedure.
Conclusions:
Proper execution of minimally invasive access to the common carotid artery minimizes tissue damage and ensures a high success rate of the procedure. Knowledge of the types of vascular access is essential for preparing the highest quality specimens.

