Utilizing Cadaver Labs for Anatomy

[omt223]

I am working on creating a program where there will be collaboration between local agencies and paramedic schools to have pertinent cadaveric prosections for viewing following a lecture. This will be focused mainly on airway, chest, and abdomen. Participants will then be handed off to our simulation staff where controlled and less controlled setting intubation of full size airway mannequins will be performed.
-The goal is to increase understanding of anatomy pertinent to certain procedures in the paramedic scope such as intubation, needle decompressions, etc.
-The hope is to increase the success rate of these procedures.

I will be looking to eventually poll a group of paramedics to determine what areas other than the airway would want to be viewed or lectured about etc. My assumption is that it will be the chest and abdomen (and their associated visceral and vascular structures)

 

[FiremanMike]

I am working on creating a program where there will be collaboration between local agencies and paramedic schools to have pertinent cadaveric prosections for viewing following a lecture. This will be focused mainly on airway, chest, and abdomen. Participants will then be handed off to our simulation staff where controlled and less controlled setting intubation of full size airway mannequins will be performed.
-The goal is to increase understanding of anatomy pertinent to certain procedures in the paramedic scope such as intubation, needle decompressions, etc.
-The hope is to increase the success rate of these procedures.

I will be looking to eventually poll a group of paramedics to determine what areas other than the airway would want to be viewed or lectured about etc. My assumption is that it will be the chest and abdomen (and their associated visceral and vascular structures)

Having done cadaver lab as a medic, an EMS instructor, and then as a student in a full blown gross anatomy course, I’d say cadaver value for EMS is mostly limited to airway.

One of the things I’ve done over the years that I found fascinating and immensely helpful was pig lab utilizing a live bit heavily anesthetized pig. I will not get into the details here to save the drama, but you should look into it.

One final thought that needs to be at the front of your list to research before you get too far into your research - cost and availability. In my neck of the woods there are two medical schools, several NP programs, a CRNA program, multiple RN programs, you get the gist. Cadaver labs are difficult to schedule even if you belong to one of those programs and quite difficult if not. In addition, it is very expensive (our last lab coat $5,000 per day and we provided our own instructors).

 

[omt223]

I have access to the lab and the go ahead from the admin
At the point in the dissection that this will take place the chest and abdomen will be open, the head bisected on a sagittal plane. So why not take a look

 

[MEDicJohn]

Having done cadaver lab as a medic, an EMS instructor, and then as a student in a full blown gross anatomy course, I’d say cadaver value for EMS is mostly limited to airway.

100% This is the same for me. I participated in cadaver labs but the focus was only airway and resp system. Would of loved to get more out of the labs.

 

[johnrsemt]

Just did Cadaver Lab training on 1 August: great for Airway, great for IO's learned how to do Humeral head IO's and a co-worker did 1 this week.
Did great training on bleeding control and tourniquets. Learned how to do chest tubes (if they are doing the training I will take advantage of it). May have to do that (with medical control of course), but with 140 mile transport time to Level I and II and can't always get a bird, we get bad traumas.
Fun calling in to ED for refusal on a 300 mph rollover. Freaks out the ED Residents.

 

[Tigger]

We are fortunate to have an agreement with a cadaver lab that caters to EMS and EM that is not part of an academic center. They are a "whole body donation" center and host organizations at a pretty low cost, to the point that we have quarterly access.

No dissection here as that would eliminate a lot of multiple procedures but all airway procedures and access aside from cric is permitted.

I have participated in a gross dissection at an EMS conference and while interesting I can't say it was super helpful.

 

[omt223]

Its going to be set up over a period of months with the input of the agencies to ensure it doesn't flop. That being said, a decent bit of the input will be from the local ED physicians and addressing the skill and decision making deficits they see in the patients transported to them.

 

[omt223]

100% This is the same for me. I participated in cadaver labs but the focus was only airway and resp system. Would of loved to get more out of the labs.

These will be dissected, embalmed bodies. I have been to a similar training, likely the same people doing it for IO and airway. Main focus of the lab portion will be seeing the actual structures, the vessels, etc.
I think the airway anatomy, at this stage in the dissection, will be as visible as it could possibly be, which I think will give more insight and understanding of the pertinent structures.