Anyone observed a brain autopsy?

florry · Jan 30, 2004

hello!

I have been a nurse for nearly 20 years, so I have seen a lot: both live and dead.

A dead body and a brain is like chiken meat when you see it. Its not much blood, because the circulation is stopped. Some want to use a mask because of the smell of formalin or the deceace the pt died of (feks. canser smells a lot). I dont know if you are going to see a whole body, but if its only the brain, you will see the white and grey substances very clearly when the pathologist use the special knife. If it is a childs brain, the GYRI will differs from a pt. feks .Alzheimer, but use the doctor and engcourage him to tell everything you see! (excuse my bad english...I am ashamed)-

Nest friday I will attend an autopsi of a whole body, at the canser hospital where I am working. We can share experiences!

If you dont feel quit well: try to pump blood with your leg muscle and sit down, so you get blood to your head!

Remember; You are not the only one who has feeling sick evt. or have to sit down for a minute!

Please let me know when you have attended the autopsi!

Iwish you all well and a time for learning!

From Florry:kiss

luv2yoga · Feb 1, 2004

Thanks, Florry,

I'm not worried about feeling faint or sick (maybe I should be!) since it's only needles that really bother me. I'll let you know how it goes - your description sounds interesting.

M.

luv2yoga · Feb 3, 2004

It was very interesting. I am very upset though, I felt faint and had to leave but I did go back. It was not gross at all, I just kept visulizing the removal of the brain and couldn't stop thinking about it. At least I went back.

The Dr. was great. Explained everything. We looked at 2 brains, they were in plastic containers, very clean, no blood, not even much smell. He pointed out all the anatomy and talked a lot about the patient and what led to death. One was basically someone who had badly abused their body throughout life and the brain really showed it. Smoker, drug user, overweight, you name it. Brain was atrophied. The other was supposed to have a tumor but surprisingly we did not find one. Just interesting. He did cross sections and talked a lot about everything the whole time.

florry · Mar 4, 2004

It was very interesting. I am very upset though, I felt faint and had to leave but I did go back. It was not gross at all, I just kept visulizing the removal of the brain and couldn't stop thinking about it. At least I went back.
The Dr. was great. Explained everything. We looked at 2 brains, they were in plastic containers, very clean, no blood, not even much smell. He pointed out all the anatomy and talked a lot about the patient and what led to death. One was basically someone who had badly abused their body throughout life and the brain really showed it. Smoker, drug user, overweight, you name it. Brain was atrophied. The other was supposed to have a tumor but surprisingly we did not find one. Just interesting. He did cross sections and talked a lot about everything the whole time.

Hello again!

I promised some weeks ago that I would respond after "friday", but we didnt get time to that. But I remember 24 years ago, my second baystander thrue an authopisi; this was at our main cities biggest hospital: and that morning it was very few who had died: Well; I huge impact was a little thoung of a newborn baby; "all the rest was put down in a cumm" for cleaning up. In Norway they had legally right to do an authopsy of every child under 18, the law and the police, you see. I cant forget that impression!!!!!

Thrue my nursing career I have some impressions that sometimes comes back, but not "pathologically disturbing my work", but some memories or special dead people with a bad look or injuries. If you check my post on how to quit smoking, I answered a person how she can try to at least reduce smoking, --and I repeat; I am not a fundamentalist, but that situation will do something with you emotionally -- for the rest of your lifte. I get som perspective on things, life, dead feks.

Best wishes

colleen10 · Mar 4, 2004

Never done an autopsy before but a few suggestions if you are affraid of how you may react.

If you think you will faint or become sick, put your back against the wall. The rooms are cool and so the walls are too. A good cool wall will make you feel better if you start to feel flushed and if you do pass out you will just slide down the wall rather than completely fall down.

You should eat something that morning. Maybe right not before it but definately get something in your system. Maybe keep a power or granola bar on you.

I think they can give you some thing to put under your nose so that the formeldahyde smell doesn't bother you. If not, I have heard that menthalated chapstick on your lips or a bit swiped under your nose helps too.

And cadavars really don't look like people, per se. You will probably handle it better than you think.

Good luck, sounds like an awesome experience.

Col

luv2yoga · Mar 4, 2004

Thanks, Colleen, I will remember your tip about the cool walls.

M.

Achoo!, LPN · Mar 4, 2004

This semester on the first day of A&P we were greeted by the cadaver, literally. They were dissecting him as we walked in. You had to walk around him to get to your seat. Nothing like jumping in with both feet.