Latex Injection

Question 1

What is milky latex extracted from?

Answer 1

Milky latex extracted from rubber tree hevea brasiliensis, as a source of natural rubber.

Question 2

Description of latex:

Answer 2

• NATURAL RUBBER LATEX IS PRODUCED MOSTLY FROM RUBBER TREES
  e. g. Hevea brasiliensis
• LATEX SOLUTION IS A DERRIVATIVE SYNTHETIC OF NATURAL RUBBER
• IT RESEMBLES THE APPEARANCE OF MILK
• MAY BE SUPPLIED AS COLOURED LATEX SOLUTION (RED & BLUE)

Question 3

Latex solution properties:

Answer 3

CONSISTS OF :
 62% LATEX POWDER,
 7% AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE
 31% WATER

LATEX SOLUTION READILY SOLIDIFIES :
 WHEN STORED AT LOW TEMPERATUES
 WHEN PLACED UNDER HIGH PRESSURE
 WHEN ALLOWED TO DRY
 WHEN IT IS PLACED OR CONVERTED INTO AN ACID MEDIUM

Question 4

Purpose for latex injection:

Answer 4

• TO MAKE ARTERIES AND VEINS MORE PROMINENT
• TO EASILY DIFFERENTIATE AND IDENTIFY BLOOD VESSELS
• TO FACILITATE DISSECTIONS, BY MAKING INJECTED AND COLOUR CODED VESSELS EASIER TO IDENTIFY
• MAY ALSO BE USED TO IMPROVE OR ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF X-RAYS IMAGES

Question 5

Advantages of latex solution:

Answer 5

 PREDICTABLE RESISTANCE

 ALLOWS DEEP PENETRATION INTO SMALL DISTAL VESSELS

 FASTER CONSOLIDATION & HARDENING TIMES

Question 6

The blood vessels:

Answer 6

• The tunica intimae (inner layer) consist of 2 layers, the lining of the artery and a lining of fibre that that separate the lining from the central muscle layer
• The tunica media (central layer) consist of smooth muscle fibres that maintain the contraction and relaxation of the blood vessels
• The tunica adventitia (outer layer) provides protection and strength

Question 7

Materials for latex injection:

Answer 7

 AIR COMPRESSOR

 PRESSURE PUMP

 COLOURED LIQUID LATEX SOLUTION (RED & BLUE)

 AMMONIA

Question 8

Procedure for latex injection:

Answer 8

 ALLOW A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS TO PASS FOLLOWING EMBALMING

 RED LATEX SOLUTION IS FOR THE ARTERIES AND BLUE LATEX SOLUTION IS FOR
THE VEINS

 POSITIVE PRESSURE IN THE TANK IS SET TO 1Kpa, HOWEVER MAY BE SET SLIGHLY HIGHER FOR FINER VESSELS.

 TO ALLOW FOR EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF LATEX IN THE BLOOD VESSELS 5ml AMMONIA IS INJECTED PRIOR TO THE INJECTION OF LATEX, THIS WILL CLEAR BLOOD VESSELS BY DISSOLVING BLOOD CLOTS AND DEBRIS

Question 9

Procedure for latex injection (continued):

Answer 9

 AFTER INJECTION OF THE PIGMENTED LATEX IT SOLIDIFIES AFTER 1-2 WEEKS AND MAINTAINS ITS COLOUR
 THE VESSELS ARE NOW IN “FULL FORM” AND CAN ENDURE VIGOROUS DISSECTING
 THE SAME INJECTION POINTS FOR EMBALMING IS USED FOR LATEX INJECTION
 THEREAFTER, APPROXIMATLY 1litre OF PIGMENTED LATEX IS ADEQUATE FOR AN ADULT CADAVER

Question 10

Precautions for latex injection:

Answer 10

 AMMONIA PREPARATION AND INJECTION IS NOT PERFORMED FOR FETAL CADAVERS BECAUSE OF VANULNERABILITY OF VASCULAR STRUCTURES AND ALSO THE SMALL VOLUMES NEEDED

 AFTER REMOVAL OF CANNULA, USE NEEDLE TO LIGATE THE BLOOD VESSELS THAT YOU USED FOR INJECTION, TO PREVENT BACK FLOW LEAKAGE OF THE PIGMENTED LATEX SOLUTION

 IMPROVED PENETRATION AND DISTRIBUTION TO SMALLER STRUCTURES CAN BE ALSO ACHIEVED BY ADDITIONAL DILUTIONS OF THE PIGMENTED LATEX SOLUTION WITH WATER

Question 11

After the latex injection completion:

Answer 11

 CADAVER SHOULD BE WASHED WITH DISFECTANT AND COVERED WITH BOTH CALICO CLOTH AND PLASTIC TO PREVENT FUNGUS AND BE REGULARY CHECKED FOR FUNGUS AND KEPT MOIST BY WETTING/SPRAYING WITH WETTING FLUID

 CADAVER SHOULD TAKE A PERIOD OF 4-6 WEEKS TO BE READY FOR
DISSECTIONS, DURING WHICH TIME THE LATEX WOULD HAVE SET