Abstract
Background Silicone dye injection is a well-described technique for studying vascular anatomy.
Plastic surgeons routinely participate in cadaveric workshops and are involved in
the preparation of vascular-labeled cadavers. However, sparse literature is available
on dye studies of extracranial head and neck vessels, even with anatomists, and the
preparation of these cadavers is a daunting task.
Materials and Methods In this study, we describe a straightforward technique of silicone dye injection
for extracranial head and neck vasculature and its application for filler injection
training and other plastic surgical procedure demonstrations on cadavers. We used
six soft-embalmed cadavers. The common carotid arteries and internal jugular veins
were cannulated with infant feeding tubes. The vessels that could lead to dye extravasation
into intracranial vessels and upper limbs were ligated. The vasculature was irrigated
with water and then injected with color-coded silicone dyes (red: arterial; blue:
venous). The solvent-to-catalyst ratios were varied to identify the ideal combination.
Injected specimens were dissected 24 hours later to identify the staining quality.
Results A clear demarcation of the extracranial head and neck vasculature in all cadavers
was seen. The best solvent-to-catalyst ratio was identified in cadavers with the best
staining of both large and small-sized blood vessels (<1 mm) with no dye spillage
from arteries to the veins.
Conclusion Silicone dye injection with the described technique can give excellent and predictable
results. The technique also uses less quantity of dye, and the intracranial structures
are spared, which can be used for other studies; hence, there is more economical utilization
of cadavers.
Keywords
silicone dye - vascular labeling - dye study - head and neck - dye injection
