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Preliminary Insights on High-Fidelity Embalming Solutions for Surgical Skills Training--An Evaluation Using the McMaster Embalming Scale and Mechanical Tests

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Title: Preliminary Insights on High-Fidelity Embalming Solutions for Surgical Skills Training--An Evaluation Using the McMaster Embalming Scale and Mechanical Tests
Language: English
Authors: Sorin Darie (ORCID 0000-0002-0127-9037), Bruce C. Wainman (ORCID 0000-0001-7616-961X), Gregory R. Wohl (ORCID 0000-0003-4631-8527), Austine Y. Wang, Betty Z. Zhang, Athena Li, Esa Ahmad, Andrew S. Palombella, Jasmine L. Rockarts (ORCID 0000-0003-2980-4259), Darren L. SA, Laura N. Nguyen, Brooke DeCarlo (ORCID 0009-0009-9449-7620), Naomi Downer, Danielle Brewer-Deluce
Source: Anatomical Sciences Education. 2026 19(4):561-572.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Surgery, Medical Education, Fidelity, Donors, Human Body, Chemistry
DOI: 10.1002/ase.70185
ISSN: 1935-9772
1935-9780
Abstract: Simulation-based training is critical for surgical skill acquisition and typically uses soft-preserved body donors, as they represent high-fidelity models (vs. hard-fixed donors) with prolonged periods of preservation (vs. unembalmed donors). While many soft-embalming solutions exist, there remains no standardization between centers nor evaluation of the solution-associated tissue suitability for surgical skills training. The current study aims to remedy that by systematically comparing qualitative ratings (McMaster Embalming Scale [MES]) and quantitative tissue properties (biomechanical testing) of four differentially embalmed tissues (Surgical Reality Fluid, Imperial College London; soft preservation solution, Ethanol-Phenol, and Saturated Salt Solution) captured during analogous clinical and mechanical tests (chest tube insertion and anchoring, bone sawing and electrocautery). MES and mechanical testing results uncovered significant differences across both embalming solutions used and skills performed. Based on these findings and considering cost/safety/accessibility features, ethanol-phenol emerged as an optimal solution for embalming tissues for surgical skills. Still, in comparison to live tissues examined in published studies, embalmed tissues tend to require substantially more force to cut and pierce, which may account for the modest suitability rankings observed across all embalmed tissues. Overall, this suggests that while solution-specific differences exist, their performance is comparable enough to accept any of those tested as adequate models for surgical skills training--an optimistic outcome for laboratories looking to manage both performance and practical concerns during embalming solution selection.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502875
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Preliminary Insights on High-Fidelity Embalming Solutions for Surgical Skills Training--An Evaluation Using the McMaster Embalming Scale and Mechanical Tests
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sorin+Darie%22">Sorin Darie</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0127-9037">0000-0002-0127-9037</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bruce+C%2E+Wainman%22">Bruce C. Wainman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7616-961X">0000-0001-7616-961X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gregory+R%2E+Wohl%22">Gregory R. Wohl</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4631-8527">0000-0003-4631-8527</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Austine+Y%2E+Wang%22">Austine Y. Wang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Betty+Z%2E+Zhang%22">Betty Z. Zhang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Athena+Li%22">Athena Li</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Esa+Ahmad%22">Esa Ahmad</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andrew+S%2E+Palombella%22">Andrew S. Palombella</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jasmine+L%2E+Rockarts%22">Jasmine L. Rockarts</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2980-4259">0000-0003-2980-4259</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Darren+L%2E+SA%22">Darren L. SA</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+N%2E+Nguyen%22">Laura N. Nguyen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brooke+DeCarlo%22">Brooke DeCarlo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9449-7620">0009-0009-9449-7620</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Naomi+Downer%22">Naomi Downer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Danielle+Brewer-Deluce%22">Danielle Brewer-Deluce</searchLink>
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surgery%22">Surgery</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+Education%22">Medical Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fidelity%22">Fidelity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Donors%22">Donors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+Body%22">Human Body</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chemistry%22">Chemistry</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/ase.70185
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  Data: 1935-9772<br />1935-9780
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  Data: Simulation-based training is critical for surgical skill acquisition and typically uses soft-preserved body donors, as they represent high-fidelity models (vs. hard-fixed donors) with prolonged periods of preservation (vs. unembalmed donors). While many soft-embalming solutions exist, there remains no standardization between centers nor evaluation of the solution-associated tissue suitability for surgical skills training. The current study aims to remedy that by systematically comparing qualitative ratings (McMaster Embalming Scale [MES]) and quantitative tissue properties (biomechanical testing) of four differentially embalmed tissues (Surgical Reality Fluid, Imperial College London; soft preservation solution, Ethanol-Phenol, and Saturated Salt Solution) captured during analogous clinical and mechanical tests (chest tube insertion and anchoring, bone sawing and electrocautery). MES and mechanical testing results uncovered significant differences across both embalming solutions used and skills performed. Based on these findings and considering cost/safety/accessibility features, ethanol-phenol emerged as an optimal solution for embalming tissues for surgical skills. Still, in comparison to live tissues examined in published studies, embalmed tissues tend to require substantially more force to cut and pierce, which may account for the modest suitability rankings observed across all embalmed tissues. Overall, this suggests that while solution-specific differences exist, their performance is comparable enough to accept any of those tested as adequate models for surgical skills training--an optimistic outcome for laboratories looking to manage both performance and practical concerns during embalming solution selection.
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