PATH 550 - Surgical and Autopsy Techniques

8 Cr. Hrs.

PATH 505 and 525 are prerequisites for this class. This course will cover surgical grossing techniques, autopsy techniques, and basic photographic principles and techniques. The surgical grossing techniques will initially break down the approach to surgical specimens. It will cover basic safety in a laboratory, protective equipment, disposal of instruments and trash, storage of specimens, radioactive specimens, and fundamentals of dissection. The fundamentals will provide in detail specimen orientation, the requisition form, proper specimen identifiers, anatomic orientation, dissection of the specimen, handling tissues, inking the specimen, opening and sectioning the specimen, fixing/storing the specimen, and sampling the specimen. The gross description will be covered in which PATH 505 will be utilized. We will work on proper syntax, complete sentences, and succinct and accurate descriptions of the specimen. We will cover factual description that includes size, weight, color, shape, and consistency of the specimen as well as thorough descriptions of any lesions. The course will give a brief review of common specimen processing techniques. It will cover intraoperative consults and the basics of frozen sections. The course will provide the techniques needed for all major grossing categories such as the digestive system, breasts, lungs, whipples, lymph nodes, skin, head and neck, genitourinary, reproductive, etc. A brief introduction to photographic principles and techniques will be provided. The surgical grossing techniques will also help correlate CAP (College of American Pathologists) requirements with how a specimen is grossed for ultimate understanding of the process. A lab component will be available so students can become accustomed to the grossing station, tools, and tissue while practicing some of the basic techniques.

The autopsy techniques will initially address the basic definitions of cause of death, manner of death, mechanism of death, mode of death, forensic and hospital autopsy, coroner, medical examiner, livor mortis, and rigor mortis. The differences between physical trauma injuries, patterned injuries, injuries of forcible sexual assault, injuries of child abuse, and injuries of elder abuse will be addressed. The process of a proper autopsy will be covered, and techniques required to do external and internal examinations. The external examination is concerned with the condition of the outer surface of the body including any wounds, bruises, medical equipment, and general condition of the body. The internal examination will entail the complete evisceration of the organs, special techniques, and prosection of organs. The course will also cover the requirements for creating a PAD (preliminary autopsy diagnosis).

Prerequisite(s): PATH 505 AND PATH 525 Corequisite(s): NA
Grading Basis: Graded Repeatable: No Typical Periods Offered: Spring, Summer
Formerly: NA
NA