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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare to treat abdominal and thoracic cavities.
   • Interpret body preparation documentation.
   • Prepare and use personal protective equipment.
   • Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment.
   • Identify organs of the body requiring cavity treatment.
   • Determine appropriate cavity treatment and volume of fluid, allowing for individual case characteristics.
   • Remove invasive and non invasive medical paraphernalia as required.
2. Perform treatments.
   • Determine trocar entry point for aspiration, make incision and insert trocar into abdomen using approved surgical techniques.
   • Aspirate upper body and thoracic areas, identifying organ placement and if any aspirated material would be expected from each.
   • Remove trocar and clean according to infection control practices.
   • Reinsert trocar into the abdomen and aspirate lower body and abdominal organs, identifying organ placement and if any aspirated material would be expected from each.
   • Inject correct volume of cavity fluid into aspirated regions.
   • Remove trocar and close entry point.
   • Evaluate effectiveness of aspiration and perform re-aspiration and re-injection if required.
   • Identify and manage hazards, complications and problems.
3. Complete documentation and clean instruments, equipment and mortuary area.
   • Complete case analysis report that includes reference to any complications that may have arisen and corrective actions taken.
   • Clean, disinfect or sterilise instruments and equipment.
   • Dispose of waste materials.
   • Store instruments and equipment and report faults.
   • Clean and disinfect mortuary area.
4. Prepare to treat abdominal and thoracic cavities.
   • Interpret body preparation documentation.
   • Prepare and use personal protective equipment.
   • Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment.
   • Identify organs of the body requiring cavity treatment.
   • Determine appropriate cavity treatment and volume of fluid, allowing for individual case characteristics.
   • Remove invasive and non invasive medical paraphernalia as required.
5. Perform treatments.
   • Determine trocar entry point for aspiration, make incision and insert trocar into abdomen using approved surgical techniques.
   • Aspirate upper body and thoracic areas, identifying organ placement and if any aspirated material would be expected from each.
   • Remove trocar and clean according to infection control practices.
   • Reinsert trocar into the abdomen and aspirate lower body and abdominal organs, identifying organ placement and if any aspirated material would be expected from each.
   • Inject correct volume of cavity fluid into aspirated regions.
   • Remove trocar and close entry point.
   • Evaluate effectiveness of aspiration and perform re-aspiration and re-injection if required.
   • Identify and manage hazards, complications and problems.
6. Complete documentation and clean instruments, equipment and mortuary area.
   • Complete case analysis report that includes reference to any complications that may have arisen and corrective actions taken.
   • Clean, disinfect or sterilise instruments and equipment.
   • Dispose of waste materials.
   • Store instruments and equipment and report faults.
   • Clean and disinfect mortuary area.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

identify treatment requirements through a pre-embalming case analysis and perform abdominal and thoracic cavity treatments using correct techniques and following work health and safety/occupational health and safety and infection control practices

prepare mortuary area and select and use the required instruments and equipment

clean, disinfect and sterilise the mortuary area, instruments and equipment at conclusion of the treatment

complete case analysis reports.

Evidence of performance of treating the abdominal and thoracic cavities of different cases on two or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

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Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge of:

mortuary instruments and equipment used for treating abdominal and thoracic cavities and associated uses

techniques for body examination

organs relating to the abdominal and thoracic cavities and their treatment during the embalming process, including:

upper body and thoracic areas:

right atrium of the heart

right lung

left lung

thoracic cavity

lower body and abdominal organs:

abdominal cavity

viscera

alimentary canal

stomach

liver

small and large intestine

pancreas

spleen

gall bladder

blood vessels

appendix

bladder

kidneys

uterus

rectum

invasive and noninvasive medical paraphernalia

trocar insertion and suturing procedures

hazards, complications and problems that may be associated with abdominal and thoracic cavities treatment, including but not restricted to:

sharps injuries

needle stick injuries

blood splash

infection

chemical spill

wet area

workplace policies and procedures for treating abdominal and thoracic cavities

environmentally sound disposal methods for all types of waste and in particular for hazardous substances

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased, including social cultural and religious requirements considerations

federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations relating to work health and safety/occupational health and safety, infection control and handling human remains.

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