Maintaining a glycerolized skin bank--a practical approach

Area of Science:

• Burn Surgery
• Transplantation Medicine
• Wound Healing

Background:

• The Helsinki Burn Unit treats 120-140 patients annually, with 20-30 requiring intensive care.
• Historically, fresh, untested cadaver skin was used for extensive burns, posing risks of contamination and inconsistent quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a skin bank to address challenges associated with using fresh cadaver skin.
• To ensure a consistent supply of high-quality allografts for burn patients.

Main Methods:

• Founded a skin bank in 1995, collaborating with the hospital's Transplantation Unit.
• Harvested skin exclusively from tested multiorgan donors in an operating theater.
• Implemented a well-organized team for efficient allograft procurement.

Main Results:

• Avoided issues of viral/bacterial contamination, skin shortages, and variable quality associated with fresh cadaver skin.
• Ensured a reliable source of tested, quality-controlled allografts.
• Facilitated a more streamlined process for skin procurement.

Conclusions:

• A dedicated skin bank, in collaboration with transplantation services, significantly enhances the management of severe burns.
• Utilizing tested allografts from multiorgan donors improves patient safety and treatment efficacy.
• Organized procurement and quality control are essential for successful skin banking operations.