The usage of gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol as a hardener in the cadavers that is fixed with fixation-preservation solution (SEFS) consisting of liquid foam soap, alcohol, citric acid, and antiseptic

Purpose: The aim of this study; is to develop a solution called fixation-preservation solution (SEFS), which consists of liquid foam soap, ethyl alcohol, citric acid mixture, and benzalkonium chloride. Thus, it is to reach a practical and economical method of preparing cadavers that can be stored for a long time without spoiling and that can be studied for education and research purposes. Material and Method: For this purpose, 6 New Zealand rabbits and 4 Saanen goats were used. Animals were divided into two groups and fixed using modified SEFS. After the fixation process, a mixture of tap water, bovine gelatin and glycerin (gelatin-Gls) was administered to one group through the intravenous line; a mixture of tap water, bovine gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol (gelatin-PVA) was applied to the other group. The prepared cadavers were dissected with the classical dissection method and the findings regarding their suitability for dissection were obtained. Color and hardness analyzes were made in tissue samples taken from cadavers, as well as joint range of motion measurements in some joints, and the cadavers in both groups were evaluated comparatively over a 12-month period. Result: Dissection was started 3 months after the cadavers were identified. In the observation made before the skin dissection of the cadavers, it was determined that their tactile and visual properties were in vivo appearance and consistency in both group I (gelatin-Gls) and group II (gelatin-PVA). The skin muscle and subcutaneous connective tissue are in their natural color; fluid accumulations similar to hypostatic congestion were not detected in any area under the skin. In the tactile and visual examinations of the muscles, it was observed that they had a vivid color tone very close to their natural color, and their consistency was subjectively softer and more flexible than that of cadaver fixed with formaldehyde. The pleura, lungs and heart were found to be in their natural colors. Lungs did not collapse; the heart was in its normal appearance and volume. The walls of the atria and ventricles, which preserved their hollow structure, did not collapse inward. When the abdominal organs were evaluated for both groups, it was observed that group II (gelatin-PVA) gave better results than group I in terms of preserving the volumes of both chest and abdominal organs, especially in the heart, lung, liver, spleen and kidneys. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the mixture of SEFS and gelatin-PVA as a fixative solution was superior in terms of some properties expected from cadavers.