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IJAR.2017.106

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Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 5; Issue 1 (February 2017)

Page No.: 3530-3534

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2017.106

ANALYSIS OF CADAVER POPULATION: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A MEDICAL TEACHING INSTITUTION IN WEST BENGAL

Phalguni Srimani *1,  Ardhendu Mazumdar 2, Shibani Majumdar 3.

*1 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

3 Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Phalguni Srimani, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. E-Mail: falgunisreemani@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The use of cadavers is an essential part of education and research in Anatomy. Besides Anatomy, dissections on cadavers are done for practicing surgical skills and also for development of new surgical techniques. As shortage of cadaver supply may adversely affect the quality of medical training, there exists an urgent need to overcome the scarcity of cadavers in our country.

Aims: In the present study, an attempt was made to create a database of cadaveric population in the Department of Anatomy of a medical teaching institution in West Bengal during last six years.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of cadavers received in the Department of Anatomy, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata through voluntary donation were studied during the period between 2010 to 2015, based on documents available in the same department at the time of body donation by the relatives of the deceased.

Results: Total numbers of voluntarily donated cadavers studied were 152. The pattern of body donation was variable from year to year. Highest numbers of cadavers were donated in the year 2010 and lowest in the year 2014. Most of the cadavers received were male as a result of institutional deaths and belonged to urban setting. Oldest and youngest cadavers were also of male ones. The average age of cadaver was 77.5 years and most (90.8%) of them were of 61-90 year age-group.

Conclusion: The Department of Anatomy of the present institution is well equipped with infrastructure and facilities to receive cadavers as there is a growing demand for steady supply of cadavers to maintain the quality of both undergraduate and postgraduate training and research. Shortage of cadavers also resulted insufficiency in supply of bones and viscera’s. Moreover, female cadavers were found less in number and no paediatric cadaver was observed. To promote public education for the importance of body donation, joint efforts from various sections of people particularly religious leaders, popular public personalities should be emphasized. This activity might be augmented by setting up of help-desks in the medical teaching institutions to disburse information regarding donation process. Role of medical students cannot be ignored in raising awareness among general population towards the generous act of body donation to overcome the scarcity of cadavers in our country.

Key words: Anatomy, Voluntary body donation, Database, Public education.

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Cite this article: Phalguni Srimani, Ardhendu Mazumdar, Shibani Majumdar. ANALYSIS OF CADAVER POPULATION: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A MEDICAL TEACHING INSTITUTION IN WEST BENGAL. Int J Anat Res 2017;5(1):3530-3534. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2017.106