Skin graft harvesting under local anaesthesia

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Surgical Anesthesia

Background:

• Dermoepidermal transplants require effective local anesthesia for optimal outcomes.
• Traditional anesthesia methods present challenges in terms of procedure length and graft quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and practicality of three local anesthesia methods for harvesting dermoepidermal grafts.
• To identify the most suitable anesthesia technique for this surgical procedure.

Main Methods:

• Procaine injections: Evaluated for effectiveness but noted for lengthy application and uneven graft surfaces.
• Freezing with Kelene: Assessed for speed and minimal preparation, though resulting in thicker grafts.
• EMLA (eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine) application: Examined for effectiveness and ease of use.

Main Results:

• EMLA demonstrated high effectiveness and simplicity, with no reported disadvantages.
• Procaine injections were effective but time-consuming and led to uneven surfaces.
• Kelene provided rapid anesthesia without preparation but yielded thicker grafts.

Conclusions:

• EMLA is identified as the optimal local anesthesia method for dermoepidermal transplants.
• Kelene serves as a practical alternative for rapid anesthesia when preparation time is limited.
• The choice of anesthetic method depends on factors including standard practice, availability, and specific procedural needs.