Test 5- Advanced Embalming Theory Flashcards
- Too little time devoted to the preparation of the remains.
- The use of too little solution.
- The use of too strong arterial fluid solution.
- Basing your evaluation of preservation entirely on tissue rigidity
- Excessive injection speed and pressure
- Excessive drainage: Those that utilize the continus method on every case they embalm.
- Failure to thoroughly preserve the viscera
The Seven Areas of Failure
Speed in embalming is more frequently an indication of carelessness and lack of interest than of skill and experience. Embalming can be completed rapidly in two ways (most of the time it is one of the two factors):
- by injecting an inadequate volume of solution.
- By injecting the solution so rapidly that the distribution lacks uniformity and much of the solution escapes through the drain tube.
Too Little Time Devoted to the Preparation of the Remains
Adequate preservation can be insured only if all receptive tissues of the body are thoroughly saturated with a preservative solution. A gallon or so of a diluted arterial solution will not saturate 150 lbs or so of body tissue.
The Use of Too Little Solution
One gallon of arterial fluid solution exclusive of pre-injection to 50 pounds of body weight.
The General Rule
The general rule of thumb is to inject a 2% AFS (primary injection) with less than 1 gallon per 50 lbs.
- Fluid loss through drainage is restricted by closing the drain tube at intervals and creating a back pressure (intermittent drainage)
- Provided that this formale has adequate strength in terms of preservative chemicals.
Modern Theory
- Excessively strong solutions have a tendency to react so rapidly and to such an extreme degree in exposed areas of the body (face and hands) that the injection may have to be halted before enough solution has been used to saturate the more distant parts of the body.
- Features which have been hardened to an excessive degree may be drawn and wrinkled also darkened and subject to immediate dehydration and shrinking.
- Problem cases where there is a high preservative demand such as edema and decomposition would be the exception.
- When faced with dehydrated or emaciated cases, a weak solution will be required and a high volume.
The use of Too Strong Arterial Fluid Solution
This is the most common of all emblaming errors because you can have firmness without preservation and preservation without firmness. Rigor mortis is frequently mistaken for HCHO coagulation of tissue protein. Rigor mortis causes a shortening of the cell and a compression of the smaller arteries and capillaries, thus restricting fluid distribution. Humectant based arterial fluid solutions do not produce firmness in tissue but their preservation capability is not lessened.
Basing Your Evaluation of Preservation Entirely on Tissue Rigidity
Too rapid injection tends to force the fluid out to the low resistance areas just beneach the skin (tested on humans and animals). The result of such procedure is a “preservative shell” surrounding un-embalmed deeper tissue which will usually decompose before disposition.
Excessive Injection Speed and Pressure
Any pressure which does not permit an occasional closing of the drain tube must be regarded as excessive. This is also a mistaken belief that an arterial tube with a small lumen will decrease excessively high injection pressure. Duotronic on low speed is the exception. Lower pressure and look for reappaerance of blood.
General Rule- Injection Speed and Pressure
- A continuous drainage usually indicates shot-circuiting and a failure of the solution to enter areas of relatively high resistance.
- Preventing hard and soft spots
- The good embalmer- Intermitten drainage
Excessive Drainage: Those that Utilize Continuous Method on Every Case They Embalm
The eventual result may be a lack of uniformity in preservation and early dehydration in the areas that received an overabundance of fluid solution and the possible development of tissue gas in the areas that received no fluid solution.
A continuous drainage usually indicates shot-circuiting and a failure of the solution to enter areas of relatively high resistance.
The solution would be to close the drain tube at intervals whenever the drainage is obviously arterial fluid solution. Another test would be to reduce the rate of flow and pressure and check drainage for the reappearance of blood.
To Prevent Hard Spots and Soft Spots
Will utilize the intermittent method that is opening and closing the drain tube pump rod at intervals.
The Good Embalmer
- Will equalize vascular resistance
- Close off short circuits by forcing fluid into resistance areas.
- Increase the uniformity of tissue saturation and volume of blood removal.
- Minimize excessive arterial fluid solution loss in drainage.
What the Intermittent Method Accomplishes
Cavity treatment is even more important than arterial injection in the maintenance of short term preservation. This is because virtually all of the putrefactive organisms are found in the cavities of the body at the time of death, especially in the nine regions of the abdomen in the gastrointestinal tract (E-coli and clostridium perfringen).
Failure to Thoroughly Preserve the Viscera
