key: cord-0938710-doohvzn6
authors: Tschernig, Thomas; Bechmann, Ingo; Meier, Carola; Paulsen, Friedrich; Waschke, Jens; Westermann, Jürgen; Bräuer, Lars
title: Anatomy in times of pandemia – Impact on teaching and body donations
date: 2021-07-12
journal: Ann Anat
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151792
sha: fbe1196c9700600b7c34a8faf7c86289104065d3
doc_id: 938710
cord_uid: doohvzn6

nan

The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has not only been intensively discussed in the anatomical institutes but has also led to different consequences and approaches. A number of publications have already appeared reporting on the impact that the pandemic has had on the activities in anatomical institutes (Ahmad et al., 2021; Banovac et al., 2021; Böckers et al., 2021; Darici et al., 2021; Harmon et al., 2021; Jones, 2021; Manzanares-Céspedes et al., 2021; Naidoo et al., 2020; Singal et al., 2021a, b; Wolniczak et al., 2020) . To obtain further information on the procedures in departments, a short survey was sent to all members of the Anatomische Gesellschaft (Anatomical Society) in March 2021. Members from 40 institutes participated in the survey; 39 members from human anatomy departments (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, USA) and one member from the field of veterinary anatomy (Germany). The results spotlighted the impact of the pandemic on work and teaching in the institutes of anatomy:

The first question in this survey concerned incoming body donations. In 23% of the institutes, a Covid 19 test was performed on incoming donor bodies, in 88% of those a PCR test was used (Fig. 1A) . In 12 institutes, the consequence of a positive test was immediate cremation. In two locations, the bodies were included in scientific examinations. The next question addressed the rejection of SARS-CoV2 positive-tested donated bodies. In 78%, the body donations were rejected ( Fig. 2A) . Did the pandemic have an impact on the procedural regulations? In 74%, no changes were made in the preservation procedures of the cadavers, which conversely means that 26% of the institutes made a change (Fig. 2B ). In 82% the staff's personal equipment was improved, for example by the provision of FFP2 masks (Fig. 2C) . Was the number of new donation agreements affected? In 92% the number of new donation agreements remained unchanged, at individual institutes an increase or decrease was observed (Fig. 3A) . The number of incoming donations was unchanged in 51%. In 38.5% the number decreased and in 10.5% increased (Fig. 3B ).

An important topic also was the number and procedure of courses offered in the institutes. The dissection course (winter semester 20-21/summer semester 21) was held in 80/76%, while 7.5/3% dropped out and in 12.5/21% the course was generally not held in that semester (Fig. 4A,B) . At two locations, the preparation course was conducted entirely online. At the other locations, the course or courses were conducted in a modified and hybrid mode with reduced attendance/partial attendance and additional online seminars. At one place SARS-CoV-2 infections appeared in the dissection course without related infections within the home environment. The source of infections remained unknown. At all other places no SARS-Cov-2 infected students occurred in the dissection courses in which participants were physically present. Without going into detail, the pandemic also influenced other courses such as neuroanatomy, histology or embryology. A clear tendency towards increased online teaching was observed. Annual burial ceremonies could not be held in 92%. Clinical courses were https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151792 0940-9602/© 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. also cancelled in 92%. The memorial services and clinical courses that were held, observed additional hygiene measures. In 88% no financial compensation was awarded for cancelled clinical courses. In summary, the pandemic had and still has an impact on work in many anatomical institutes. Teaching has changed -donation agreements and donations are not affected at most places for many bereaved, delay of the burial and no ceremony is difficult. 

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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b Board members of the Anatomische Gesellschaft

The authors wish to thank all participants of the survey for giving their time and support. Thanks also go to Doris Stark and Ann Söther for their excellent support. Finally, the authors thank the referees for valuable comments.