Standardization of the Klingler Dissection Technique at 3400 m above Sea Level

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different formaldehyde concentrations (5%, 8%, and 10%) on the Klingler dissection technique, specifically in the context of high-altitude (3400 m above sea level) bovine brain preparation. Methods: Forty bovine brains were prepared using various Klingler methods and were distinguished by formaldehyde concentrations. The brains were subjected to a standardized process of fixation, freezing, thawing, and dissection. The evaluation criteria included the ease of meningeal removal, tissue consistency, and the degree of encephalic tissue degradation, assessed through a Likert scale. The statistical analysis involved analysis of variance tests for group comparisons and Spearman correlations to explore relationships between evaluation metrics. The Ethics Committee of the Andean University of Cusco approved the protocol by RESOLUCIÓN N° 021-2023-VRIN-UAC. Results: Formaldehyde concentrations of 5% and 10% were significantly more effective than the 8% concentration at facilitating meningeal removal, enhancing tissue consistency, and reducing encephalic tissue degradation. Notably, the 5% concentration demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of dissection quality and tissue color preservation. Statistically significant differences were observed between groups, with post hoc analyses indicating that the 5% and 10% groups were superior to the 8% group. Conclusions: The Klingler technique revealed that a 5% formaldehyde concentration is most conducive for high-altitude bovine brain dissection. This concentration optimizes tissue preservation and dissection quality, potentially offering insights for anatomical studies and educational practices. Future research should explore the applicability of these results to human brain anatomy and consider additional environmental and procedural variables.