Skin too can be preserved to save burn and accident victims

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It is not just eyes and blood that can be preserved; the same applies to the skin too. Karnataka got its first skin bank, the sixth in the country, on Wednesday. The unit is at the State-run Victoria Hospital and Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Doctors hope that the skin bank may help save the lives of countless burn victims, as harvested skin is the best form of ‘biological dressing’ available today.

The skin is collected within six hours of a person’s death and preserved for future use, after taking consent from the donor’s family. “Without harvested skin, even patients with 50 per cent burns don’t usually survive,” said Smitha Segu, associate professor and head, plastic surgery, Victoria Hospital.

“The main cause of death in accident and burn victims is infection. Grafting artificial or harvested skin on wounds is an effective way to improve healing,” said Dr. Devadass P.K., Dean, Victoria Hospital.

Mahabodhi Burns Centre at Victoria Hospital receives around 160 cases a month.

St. John’s Hospital in Madiwala procures harvested skin from the National Burns Centre, Mumbai, for treatment of severe burn victims. “The skin has to be couriered and reaches the next day. There is the possibility of transit delay,” said Sunderraj Ellur, additional professor, department of plastic reconstructive surgery and burns, St. John’s Hospital.

Although artificial skin is available, it is prohibitively expensive. The government has agreed to fund all skin grafts at the skin bank, which was inaugurated by Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil. “A nominal charge may be levied,” said Dr. Segu.

The Rotary Bangalore Midtown and Ashirvad Pipes have funded the infrastructure of the skin bank.

It will take a month for the lab to be sterilised and the first skin harvest to be made. The first specimens will need to be tested for two to three months before the skin is ready for treating patients.