Frequently asked questions

Activities of Tampere Surgical Education Centre

From where do you obtain the cadavers for the training?

During the training, the deceased who have undergone autopsy are used in TSEC. The will and conviction of the deceased concerning the educational use of their corpse are always checked from the patient records and the bereaved. The cadavers are not frozen or embalmed. Their use in trainings occurs quite soon after death.

How are the deceased handled during the training events?

All training is carried out with respect for dignity and legal protection of the deceased. The staff in TSEC takes care of the preparation of the deceased for the training. The deceased are handled as patients in the surgical laboratory. The educational use of a deceased person in training will not delay the burial. The timing of the handover is agreed with the family.

Can a person donate one’s body to the educational use in TSEC?

If a person wants his corpse to be used in surgical education, one does not have to have a specific will. A note in the patient record or living will is enough. It is advisable to tell about it to the family, too.

One can also make a body donation to the Tampere University Faculty of Medicine and Health School. In that case, it is used in the anatomy training of the medical students.

Are there any hazards in the use of fresh cadavers?

All deceased are vetted before the use in training using the patient records. If tuberculosis or blood-borne infections are suspected according to the patient history or autopsy, the deceased is not used during a training event. This applies also to the case of drug abuse.

Few days after death, it is practically impossible to test cadavers for blood-borne infections like HIV, hepatitis B or C. Based on mere patient history, one cannot exclude the possibility of blood-borne or sexually transmitted infections. However, plenty of patients carrying these viruses are operated safely every year without knowing their carrier status.

To avoid the contagion, a certain code of practice is followed in the operating room. This practice should be carried out also during the cadaver training sessions, to ensure the safety of the training.

Who is allowed to use TSEC?

Healthcare professionals and students from different clinics, hospitals and academies can practice their skills in TSEC. The manufactures of the medical implants, instruments and devices can arrange their own courses.

Research and development are not included in TSEC’s teaching license. All devices must have marketing permit in EU. A research team can apply for their own research license if they want to use cadavers in scientific research. Read more in Ethical principles.

Do you accept interns or exchange students to TSEC?

No. The applications are addressed to the Tampere University Hospital clinics or Tampere University.

Organizing training events

What does it cost to arrange an event in TSEC?

The prices can be found in the Price list. The costs depend on the size of the reservation and for how many days the laboratory is reserved.

What services are included in the fee?

The included services can also be found in the Price list.

What services are not included in the fee?

The fee does not include any special instrumentation. A client is allowed to bring his own instrumentation along. The decontamination wash of client’s instrumentation up to five containers per reserved station is included, but if the number of containers exceeds five, an extra washing fee of 27 € + VAT 24 % per container is charged. Sterilization is agreed separately and invoiced by the number of containers (27 € + VAT 24 % per container).

Other additional work, such as forensic consultation related to the use of cadavers before the autopsy, or the packaging of client’s instruments for the pick-up, will also be billed separately. See the Price list for more information.

The use of other facilities outside the TSEC (for example, lecture rooms) or catering are not included in the service fee, nor are special services like the preparation of certificates or name tags and applying for specialization hours. Ask for an offer from our staff at tsec@pirha.fi. We are happy to help!

How can I reserve the surgical laboratory for an educational event?

Please contact our staff ar tsec@pirha.fi.

Can I cancel a reservation?

Reservations can be cancelled at no cost no later than eight weeks before the booked date. If the cancellation is made later, 50–100% of the costs will be charged, see Price list. Changes to the timing and schedule of the course must also be made no later than four weeks before the booked time.

How do I make a cancellation?

All cancellations are made in writing and emailed to tsec@pirha.fi.

Must I obtain trainers myself for the training event?

Yes. We do not offer trainers. During internal training, the trainer is most often the clinic's own specialist. Associations and equipment manufacturers may also hire experts elsewhere to provide training.

Does TSEC provide courses for individual surgeons?

Most of the training events are either internal or organized by associations, companies, or other hospitals. We cannot receive registrations for them. TSEC provides some courses by its own for individual professionals. You can find them in our educational events.

The clinics of Tampere University Hospital sometimes invite visitors to their own internal training events. In this case, TSEC invoices 420 euros + general VAT (25,5 % in 2024) from one visitor per day. If invited to a training event, please contact tsec@pirha.fi before the event and give us your name and contact information, your employer and invoicing address. See more information for participants.

What is the surgical laboratory in TSEC like?

The building where TSEC is located was built in 2013. The surgical laboratory is a spacious 210 m2 room resembling a real operating room with eight teaching stations. It can be divided into two four-station labs. The laboratory is air-conditioned and well-illuminated with general lighting and surgical lights. The outer walls and doors are shielded with lead, allowing the use of radiation.

What kind of instrumentation is available in TSEC?

The instrumentation is suitable for general surgery as well as orthopedics and many other specialties. The clients arranging educational events in TSEC are welcome to bring their own equipment and instrumentation. At all stations, genuine operating tables are electrically controlled. There are two HD-displays over each station. Two HD-camcorders are available for displaying live picture in the laboratory or in any meeting room in the hospital campus. Plenty of movable instrument tables are also available.

There is no pressurized air available in the surgical laboratory.

How can I arrange the delivery and pick-up for my instrumentation?

The TSEC is located on the second floor of the building O on Tampere University Hospital Campus. Its delivery address is Arkkiatrinkuja 6, 33520 Tampere, Finland. Please take a look at driving instructions on our webpage in Finnish. There is no loading bridge, so the truck should have a lowering loading platform, when handling large items. We can lend a hand pallet truck for transfers inside the building.

Large deliveries can be accepted on weekdays during 8-10 AM and 2:30-4 PM. Small deliveries can also be accepted during 10 AM - 2:30 PM. All deliveries and pick-ups must be agreed with the coordinators, because sometimes they work elsewhere. Please call either +358 50 406 9171 or +358 50 362 8977, or send an email to tsec@pirha.fi.

How is the external instrumentation being cared for after the training?

The instruments are transported to the centralized sterilization and disinfection unit in building D for decontamination wash. Coordinators do not wash instruments in TSEC facilities. After decontamination, the instrumentation is ready for packing in three working days. The decontamination wash and transportation back to TSEC is not possible during the same day as the training event. If you have a need for faster decontamination in 1-2 working days, please contact our coordinators at least four weeks before the event. The odds for faster decontamination process depend on the amount and nature of the instrumentation and the capacity of the centralized sterilization and disinfection unit. Please note that requests deviating from normal timetable might not be feasible.

The decontamination process is included to our fee up to five containers per reserved station. If the number of containers exceed five, an extra washing fee is added. Special needs (f. ex. sterilization) must be agreed separately and will be invoiced by the number of containers. Take a look with the Price list. All instruments that are used with live patients after cadaver training must be sterilized before they leave the hospital campus.

The client purchasing the training event is responsible for the arrangement of the external instrumentation before and after the training event as well as for its packing for the pick-up. If there is a need for coordinator’s services for packing the instrumentation, it is agreed and invoiced separately (coordinator’s services: 65 euros + general VAT per starting hour).