Reduced iodine solution as an objective indicator of tissue perfusion during embalming in cadavers

Background Anatomists rely on subjective cadaveric signs such as frothy ooze or abdominal fullness to mark the completion of tissue perfusion during embalming. We evaluated the use of a reduced iodide solution, coated over certain distinct sites on cadavers, to mark the completion of formalin perfusion to stop embalming at the right time. Methods In a comparative study, reduced iodide was coated over the nail plates of the great toes and onto sticks inserted into the pinnae prior to the start of embalming of 6 cadavers while another set of 6 cadavers underwent standard embalming. A fixed amount (8 L) of embalming solution was prepared for each cadaver. In the first 6 cadavers, embalming fluid infusion was stopped when the colour changed from brownish yellow to colourless while in the controls, embalming fluid was infused till standard signs of completion were reached. The volume of unused embalming fluid in the two sets of cadavers was compared. Results The amount of unused embalming fluid was significantly higher in the experimental set of cadavers [3616.66 (0.76) ml v. 1783.33 (0.64) ml] when compared with the control set while the infusion time was significantly lower [373.33 (0.67) minutes v. 623.33 (0.69) minutes]. Conclusion Use of the reduced iodide method to objectively assess completion of embalming could result in saving time and the amount of formalin used during the embalming procedure.