Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40495054›Full record

ArticleSurgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA2025

The use of technical grade chemicals and on-site production of ammonium nitrate: a cost-effective and safer approach to Thiel embalming.

Napawan Taradolpisut, Wattana Weerachatyanukul, Worawit Suphamungmee, Somluk Asuvapongpatana, Torsak Luanphaisarnnont, Arada Chaiyamoon, Thewarid Berkban, Tyler Halliwell, Tracey Wilkinson, Athikhun Suwannakhan

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Article in Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Napawan TaradolpisutDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
Wattana WeerachatyanukulDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
Worawit SuphamungmeeDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
Somluk AsuvapongpatanaDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
Torsak LuanphaisarnnontDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Arada ChaiyamoonDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Thewarid BerkbanDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Tyler HalliwellCentre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID), School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Tracey WilkinsonHuman Anatomy Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Athikhun SuwannakhanDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. athikhun.suw@mahidol.ac.th.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeWhile Thiel embalming effectively preserves cadavers in a lifelike and flexible state, its implementation is constrained by high costs and the use of ammonium nitrate, which may be restricted in certain countries due to regulatory controls and safety concerns. This study aims to develop a more economical and safer approach to Thiel embalming by using technical grade chemicals and synthesizing ammonium nitrate on-site and, both overcoming economic barriers to Thiel embalming and addressing regulatory constraints associated with ammonium nitrate.

methodsIn the present study, technical grades were used instead of reagent grades. Ammonium nitrate was synthesized through a controlled reaction of nitric acid and ammonium hydroxide under strict safety protocols. The solution was incorporated into Thiel embalming fluids and used for arterial and venous embalming of 28 cadavers at two institutions.

resultsThe cadavers embalmed using the methods presented in this study were comparable to conventional Thiel-embalmed cadavers, preserving tissue flexibility, color, and structural integrity. The only notable difference was the reduced submersion duration, which was limited to three to four months.and the technique effectively mitigated the hazards of ammonium nitrate storage.

conclusionThe use of technical grade chemicals, combined with on-site production of ammonium nitrate, presents a more cost-effective alternative for Thiel embalming, particularly in regions with stringent regulations, making Thiel embalming more accessible for anatomy departments worldwide.

Indexed as

EmbalmingNitratesCadaverCost-Benefit AnalysisHumansNitric Acidammonium nitrateNitratesNitric AcidAmmonium nitrateCadaver embalmingEducationThiel embalming

Identifiers

PMID40495054

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.