1. Thiel Cadavers: The holy grail of surgical simulation?
Society of Academic and Research Surgery Annual Conference
January 2015
Thiel Cadavers: The holy grail of surgical simulation?
Marina Yiasemidou
Specialty Trainee General Surgery
Honorary Tutor, University of Leeds
D. Glassman, J. Tomlinson, D. Roberts, D. Miskovic
Special Thanks to Peter Culmer and Sarah Wilson

2. Aviation industry

3. Surgery

5. Thiel Embalming
Emeritus O. Univ. Prof. Dr. Walter Thiel (1919–2012)

6. University of Dundee

7. Multi specialty “open day”

8. Participants Consultant Senior registrar or research fellow Total
Consultant
Senior registrar or research fellow
Total
General/Vascular surgery 3 2 5
Neurosurgery
OMFS 1
Thoracic surgery
Trauma and Orthopaedics 4
Obstetrics and gynaecology
Gastroenterology
Urology
ENT 14 18

9. Baseline questions

10. Participant characteristics
Gender
M:F 18:0
Years of experience (median)
Consultants: 12
Registrars and research fellows: 2.5
Experience using cadavers for surgical training as a trainer (faculty) – number of events participated in
No of events
None
1-2
3-5
6-10
>10
No of surgeons 5 1 3 4
Experience using cadavers for surgical training as a trainee – number of event participated in
What types of cadavers have you used before
Types of cadavers
Fresh/ Fresh frozen
Thiel
Formalin fixed
Others
No of surgeons* 10 12

11. Feedback Opinion before Opinion after p-value
Opinion before
Opinion after
p-value
Cadaveric tissue feels significantly different from live tissue
6- agree
3-rather disagree
0.001
Cadaveric tissue looks significantly different from live tissue
The use of cadavers for surgical simulation is of little benefit
2-disagree
1.5-1 being completely disagree and 2 disagree
0.223
It is difficult to identify anatomical landmarks in cadavers
2.5, 2- disagree and 3- rather disagree
2- disagree
0.106
Using cadavers for surgical training is unethical
1 completely disagree
0.564
Cadaveric dissection is expensive
4.5 – 4 undecided, 5- rather agree
3.5, 3 – rather disagree
0.016
The smell of cadavers can be disturbing
5-rather agree
0.012

12. Feedback – similarity to live tissue

13. Conclusions
Cadavers are appropriate for surgical simulation
Multispecialty consensus that “Thiel” cadavers are valuable as an educational tool for surgery (with the exception of brain and opthalmic surgery).
“Thiel” feel more lifelike than traditionally embalmed bodies
“Thiel” look more lifelike than traditionally embalmed bodies
“Thiel” have a less disturbing odour compared to traditionally embalmed bodies
“Thiel” are more cost-effective compared to traditionally embalmed bodies

14. Thank you