(Q4) Embalming Fluids Flashcards
Types of Embalming Fluids
- Preservatives
- Supplementary Germicides
- Modifying Agents
- Anticoagulants
- Surfactants
- Dyes
- Deodorants
- Vehicles
- (Autopsy chemicals)
Preservatives
- Fluids that alter the proteins in the body so the enzymes of decomposition do not work
- Alters proteins structure
- Alters enzymes
Examples of Preservatives
- Aldehydes
- Alcohols
- Phenolic Compounds
Aldehydes
- All aldehydes work by cross-linking proteins
- Smaller aldehydes (formaldehyde) produce better firmness than dialdehydes (glutaraldehyde) because they produce more cross-links
Most commonly used aldehydes in embalming:
Formaldehyde and Glutaraldehyde
Aliphatic Alcohols
- Methanol (wood alcohol)
- Ethanol (grain alcohol)
- Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol)
What does methanol also do in embalming fluid?
- Antipolymerizing product (extends shelf-life)
What does ethanol also do in embalming fluid?
- Increases the solubility of formaldehyde (keeps it in the solution)
What does isopropanol also do in embalming fluid?
- Increases diffusion of formaldehyde
Aromatic Alcohols
- Phenol and Phenolic Compounds
What is Phenol?
- Aromatic Alcohol
- Weak Acid
- Used as a disinfectant, bleaching Agent, and preservative
- Other names: Hydroxybenze and Carbolic Acid
- Perservative used in anatomical specimens
Disadvantage of Phenol
- It may turn the tissue a putty gray color when used with an aldehyde
Supplementary Germicides
- Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs)
- Glutaraldehyde
Example of Phenol in a commercial product
Dodge Dryene
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs)
- Surfactant
- Widely used for the disinfection of instruments, skin, oral and nasal passages,
- Easily neutralized by soaps and anionic substances found in arterial fluids (so their use is restricted to surface disinfection and specialty fluids
Example of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs) in a commercial product
Dodge Dis-Spray
Glutaraldehyde
- A dialdehyde
- best germicide of the aldehydes
- Cold chemical sterilant (cold or liquid sterilizing agent)
- Mainly used for sterilizing instruments but can be present in arterial fluids
Modifying Agents
- Agents that modify the action of harsh substances in arterial fluids
- Humectants
- Buffers
Humectants
Moisture-retaining agents
- Help to offset dehydration by imparting a pliable and flexible effect to the tissues
Examples of Humectants
- Glycerol
- Glycols
- Sorbitol
- Water-soluble Lanolin compounds
What type of alcohols are glycols?
Dihydroxy alcohols
Examples of glycols
- hexylene glycol
- ethylene glycol
What type of alcohol is glycerol?
trihydroxy alcohol
What type of alcohol is sorbitol?
Polyhydroxy alcohol
What is Lanolin?
- a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. (sheep)
- A humectant
- Acts as an emollient (gives a soft-like feel to the body) when injected into the body
Example of a humectant in a commercial product
Dodge Restorative
Buffers
Substances that resist change in pH when an acid or a base is added to a solution
Why are buffers important to have in your embalming solution?
- somatic death is followed by a pH shift
Examples of Buffers
- Borax (sodium borate)
- Disodium phosphate
- sodium bicarbonate
- EDTA (both a buffer and anticoagulant)
Anticoagulants
- Substances that will react with the calcium ions to help resist clotting making the blood easier to remove
- Also known as water conditioning agents
Why are anticoagulants important to have in your embalming solution?
- Ionized calcium is one of the key factors in blood coagulation
- Dissolved calcium ions can cause a condition known as water hardness
- In embalming, water is the principal vehicle so the calcium ion content of the water must be controlled
- Hard water contributes to blood clotting and interferes with drainage
Examples of anticoagulants
- EDTA
- Sodium or potassium citrate
- Sodium or potassium oxalates
Example of an anticoagulant in commercial use
Dodge Rectifiant
Surfactants
- Substances that reduce the surface tension of a liquid
- Also known as wetting agents or surface active agents
Why are surfactants important to have in your embalming solution?
- Surface tension is the force that acts on the surface of a liquid and tends to minimize surface area
- A similar tension exists between liquids and the surface of a cell membrane interfering with the diffusion of the liquid into the cell
- Surfactants facilitate the flow of embalming chemicals through the capillary walls and into the tissue to ensure complete diffusion and saturation of the tissue cells by the preservatives
Examples of surfactants
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Dyes
- Substances that impart color to the skin (active dye) or impart color to the liquid in the container (inactive dye)
- Embalming active dyes range from a pale yellow color to a bright red color
Examples of Dyes
- Eosin
- Erythrosin
- Ponceau Red
- Icterin
Eosin
- A yellowish-orange color
- Stains the tissue (active dye)
Erythrosin
- A cherry red color
- Stains the tissue (active dye)
Ponceau Red
- A red color
- A non-staining dye used primarily to color the fluid rather than stain the tissues (inactive dye)
Icterin
- Yellowish color
Reodorants
- Substances that mask odor
- Perfuming or masking agents
Deodorants
- Substances that destroy odors
Why are reodorants and deodorants important?
They cover up the harsh odors of the preservatives and the disinfectants found in embalming fluids
Examples of reodorants and deodorants
- Benzaldehyde
- Oil of Wintergreen (methyl salicylate)
- Oil of Cloves
- Oil of Sassafras
- Cinnamaldehyde
Vehicles
- Solvent: The liquid medium that the embalming chemicals are dissolved in
- The vehicle is what carries the embalming agent to the tissues and improves distribution and diffusion
Examples of Vehicles
- Water
- Methanol
- Ethanol
- Glycerin
Water
- The main vehicle for arterial fluids
Methanol
- A vehicle that also has preservative action and prevents the polymerization of aldehydes
Ethanol
- A vehicle that also improves the solubility of formaldehyde in water
Glycerin
- A vehicle that is also used as a humectant
Cavity Fluids
- Fluids used to thoroughly embalm the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities and organs
- Have a different composition than arterial fluids
How are cavity fluids different than arterial fluids?
- Cavity fluids contain a much higher concentration of disinfectants and preservatives than arterial fluids
- Cavity fluids usually do not contain dyes, deodorants, humectants, or buffers (no need for a restorative effect)
Why are cavity fluids important?
- Arterial embalming alone will not thoroughly disinfect and preserve human remains
- The thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities and the organs they contain must receive supplementary embalming treatment
The pH of cavity fluid
- Acidic: 4.5-5.2
- The pH of the cavity fluid results in efficient action of the formaldehyde with the tissue proteins
Pre-Injection Fluid
- Substance that prepares the vascular system for the injection of preservatives and disinfectants
- Introduced into the vascular system against closed drainage before arterial embalming
- (Ex. Capillary wash: not often used anymore, used to warm and soften vessels before embalming with arterial)
Contents of Pre-Injection Fluids
- Water conditioning agents
- surfactants
- humectants
- Low concentration or no concentration of preservative
Examples of pre-injection fluids in commercial use
- Dodge proflow
- Dodge metaflow
- Dodge one point
Coinjection Fluids
- Substances mixed with arterial fluids so they are injected concurrently
- Have a very similar composition to preinjection fluids
Contents in Coinjection Fluids
- Humectants
- Cosmetic Dyes
Examples of coinjection fluids in commercial use
- Dodge regal
- Dodge restorative has humectant
Accessory Fluids
- Fluids used for special restorative conditions
Examples of Accessory Fluids
- Jaundice Fluids
- Advanced Decomposition Fluids
- Edema Fluids
Jaundice Fluids
- Fluids to combat the yellow skin discoloration from jaundice
Why are jaundice fluids important?
- Jaundice is a pathological condition that causes a yellow discoloration of the skin
- Jaundice results from excessive amounts of the bile pigment bilirubin
- Arterial fluids can convert bilirubin into biliverdin, which produces a greenish discoloration
- Neither discoloration is desirable for the purposes of restoration
Examples of Jaundice Fluids
- Masking Fluids
- Bleaching Agents
- Nonformadehyde fluids
Masking Agents
Fluids that have a medium concentration of formaldehyde and cosmetic dyes
Bleaching Agents
- Fluids that have a bleaching effect on the bilirubin.
- Have a medium concentration of formaldehyde
Non-formaldehyde Fluids
Fluids designed to remove discoloration by flushing them from the tissues and the vascular system
Advanced Decomposition or Unusual Pathological Conditions Fluids
Fluids that contain:
- High index fluid (30+ index)
- Ethanol: increases the solubility of the formaldehyde in water
Edema Fluids
- Fluids that control the edema in the body
Tips for edematous cases
- Never use a preinjection fluid
- Varying the dilution of the arterial solution will be necessary
- Use restricted cervical injection and/or multipoint injection
Autopsy Chemicals
- Chemicals use to preserve autopsy cases
Why are autopsy chemicals important?
- During autopsies, the thoracic and abdominopelvic organs are removed from the cavities, then they are sectioned and replaced
- The removal of organs interrupts the vascular supply to both the viscera and the cavities
- Supplemental embalming treatment is required
Hardening Compounds
- Compounds in autopsy chemicals that treat the viscera
- Purposes: dehydration, preservation, disinfection
Contents in hardening autopsy chemicals
- Paraformaldehyde
- Alum
- Aluminum chloride
- Fillers
- Plaster of Paris
Paraformaldehyde
- A preservative and disinfectant found in hardening autopsy chemicals
- It is a solid (not a gas)
Aluminum Chloride
A dehydrating agent and disinfectant found in hardening autopsy chemicals
Fillers
- A dehydrating agent and disinfectant found in hardening autopsy chemicals
- Perlite
- Cellulose (Sawdust)
Plaster of Paris
- A dehydrating agent found in hardening autopsy chemicals
Liquid Gel Chemicals
Chemical substances used to treat the cavity walls of autopsied remains
- Generally the composition as cavity fluids, but in gel form to easily apply to the cavity walls
Example of a liquid gel chemical in commercial use
Dodge Sin-gel
