SHORT COMMUNICATION A Qualitative Assessment of Human Cadavers Embalmed by Thiel’s Method Used in Laparoscopic Training for Renal Resection Bhavan Prasad Rai, 1 Benjie Tang, 2 Roos Eisma, 3 Roger W. Soames, 3 Haitao Wen, 4 Ghulam Nabi 1 1 Department of Urology, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 Cuschieri Skills Centre, Institute for Health Skills and Education, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom 4 Department of Urology, Ningbo Urology and Nephropathy Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People’s Republic of China Human cadaveric tissue is the fundamental substrate for basic anatomic and surgical skills training. A qualitative assessment of the use of human cadavers preserved by Thiel’s method for a British Association of Urological Surgeons—approved, advanced laparo- scopic renal resection skills training course is described in the present study. Four trainees and four experienced laparoscopic surgeons participated in the course. All participants completed a five-point Likert scale satisfaction questionnaire after their training sessions. The quality of cadaveric tissue and the training session were assessed with particular em- phasis placed on the ease of patient positioning, the ease of trocar placement, the preser- vation of tissue planes, the ease of renal pedicle dissection, and the quality of tissue pres- ervation. All of the participants highly rated the quality of the cadaveric tissue embalmed by Thiel’s method (mean scores for quality on the five-point Likert scale were 4.5 and 4.3 by the trainees and experienced laparoscopic surgeons, respectively). All of the steps of laparoscopic renal resection were rated 4.0 or more on the Likert scale by both train- ees and faculty members. The initial response rates for using a human cadaver embalmed by Thiel’s method as a training tool for laparoscopic nephrectomy showed encouraging results. The performance of a laparoscopic nephrectomy on a human cadaver embalmed by Thiel’s method bears close resemblance to real laparoscopic nephrectomy procedures, and thus demonstrates added advantages to the previously reported models. Anat Sci Educ 5: 182–186. © 2012 American Association of Anatomists. Key words: human cadavers; procedural skills; Thiel’s embalming method; laparoscopy; nephrectomy; kidney resection; renal vessels; teaching course; surgical skills; postgraduate education; urology INTRODUCTION Surgical education in the United Kingdom faces multiple chal- lenges, including the limited exposure to surgical anatomy that learners receive at the undergraduate level (Fitzgerald et al., 2008; Older, 2004). Previous reports have noted that laparoscopy demonstrations enhance the learning and under- standing of basic anatomy at the undergraduate course level (Fitzpatrick et al., 2001; Glasgow et al., 2006). Jime ´nez and Aguilar suggest that laparoscopic views of the abdomen and *Correspondence to: Dr. Ghulam Nabi, Department of Urology, Ninewells Hospital, Academic Surgical Practice, Medical Research Institute, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom. E-mail: g.nabi@dundee.ac.uk Received 14 November 2011; Revised 12 January 2012; Accepted 23 January 2012. Published online 23 February 2012 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ase.1267 © 2012 American Association of Anatomists Anat Sci Educ 5:182–186 (2012) MAY/JUNE 2012 Anatomical Sciences Education