Minimally invasive surgery techniques such as laparoscopic, endoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures became current practice and recently have revolutionized the specialty of vascular surgery. However, the practice and skills of surgeons are crucial to perform correctly the numerous highly sophisticated and delicate procedures of this surgical specialty. Normally for training are used simulators, which have a known limitations. Sometimes, there are also using very expensive and not always available fresh cadavers, due to the importance of biomechanical properties of arteries for the training.

The use of embalmed cadavers assumes the better results in the surgeon comprehension of complex anatomic and vascular exposures and can improves their operative confidence. However, a traditional formaldehyde-embalming method cannot preserve the structure and properties of the vascular system.

In order to remove these limitations we have developed a new embalming perfusion method aiming to satisfy the needs to support the embalmed bodies as true simulator for vascular surgery.

In this study, we present results of histological analysis and evaluation of mechanical properties of the arteries, achieved with our perfusion system, and its comparison with formaldehyde-embalming method. Other important features, such as the authenticity of colour, tissue consistency and elasticity (flexibility) of the vascular vessels, are also discussed.