What is Skin Bank?

Burns weaken the body's primary protective barrier, the Skin, and expose the body to infectious agents. If the burnt region is not quickly covered with skin grafts or replacements, patients risk infection, fluid loss, and, eventually, multi-organ failure and death. 

In the case of a lower proportion of burns (less total body surface area burned), Skin from the patient's unburned region is extracted and transplanted onto the burn site to cover it. When the burn percentage exceeds 40%, the patient's Skin is frequently insufficient to cover the burn region. In that case, we need some skin substitutes.

The Skin has been considered to be the greatest skin replacement. Thus, compared to artificial skin substitutes, Skin donated after death, also known as cadaveric Skin, is the best and cheapest equivalent. Such Skin is a temporary bandage, but it helps regenerate the patient's Skin. 

If we have enough Skin in the skin bank from skin donations, we can rescue most such patients. After death, a person's Skin might be donated to save someone else's life. 

Skin grafts are classified into two types: Autograft, which is healthy Skin from the burn sufferer, is removed in a split-thickness method and utilized to cover the burn site with a mesh-like covering. Allograft, or Skin from a deceased donor, is used temporarily until the person's Skin can develop.

Human cadaver skin, also known as allograft, cadaver skin, or homograft, is donated for medical purposes. Cadaver is used as a temporary covering for cleansed wound surfaces before autograft (permanent) Skin is inserted. 

The successful treatment of significant thermal burns with skin allografts has resulted in the development of excellent long-term preservation strategies. Donated human Skin is originally preserved in 50% glycerol.

All skin samples are examined and stored in sterile vials containing 85% glycerol. These sealed vials can be kept at 4°C to 8°C for up to 5 years. Donated Skin typically helps burn patients and persons with severe skin injuries. It helps in early healing and the avoidance of post-burn abnormalities. We now have access to cadaveric Skin from skin banks, which may be used to treat our patients.

Dr. Anup Dhir is a plastic surgeon with 38 years of burn surgery expertise. Dr. Dhir has conducted several burn surgical operations, such as escharotomy, fasciotomy, and tangential excision. 

He also has experience using skin grafts and flaps to rebuild burnt regions. Dr. Dhir is a highly skilled and qualified burn surgeon who can treat patients with burn injuries with great care.

Fix an appointment with Dr. Anup Dhir now!