Embalming Principles, Procedures and Fluid Distribution
The objectives
Sanitation (reduce microbial load), preservation (fix tissue), restoration and presentation (a natural appearance for viewing). Every decision at the table serves one of these.
The procedure in outline
Pre-embalming analysis (cause of death, time since death, body condition, refrigeration, religious requirements); position and set the features; disinfect and shave; select the vessel - femoral first choice, with axillary, brachial, radial or common carotid as alternatives; raise the vessel and insert the cannula; inject and drain concurrently or alternately; massage and assess; cavity-embalm by trocar; hypodermic treatment of unreached areas; final cosmetic work and documentation.
Judging distribution
Look for uniform firmness, bleaching of tissue, drying of the skin, cosmetic dye reaching the features, clear return from the drain, and moderate distension of superficial veins. Failure of any one suggests obstruction, the wrong vessel, or a solution that is too weak.
Traps and a rule of thumb
Questions confuse the injection artery with the drainage vein, assume more pressure is always better (it causes swelling and oedema), and forget that the cavity must be treated separately from the vessels. Rule of thumb: inject slowly, drain generously, check the six signs of distribution, and only then finish - if in doubt, come back to it.