[Experimental and clinical study of skin stored by vitrification]

To improve the quality of stored skin, vitrification storage method (rapid cooling) was introduced. G group cryoprotective solution (20% DMSO and 6% propylene glycol in kreb's Ringer phosphate solution) was selected from 7 different kinds of solution with low toxicity and high cryoprotective activity. G group solution was proved very effective in cryopreservation of small and large pieces of guinea pig skin. Fresh cadaveric skin, 0.3-0.4 mm in thickness, with an area of 500-1,000 sq.cm was soaked in G group solution for 30 min. After being sealed in plastic bags, the skin was put directly into liquid nitrogen. The skin was thawed in 40 degrees C water bath before use. The cooling rate was about 2160 degrees C/min (by fine transient thermometer). The viabilities of stored skin measured by oxygen consumption (microelectrolyte method) and succinic dehydrogenase (by modified Hershey's method) were about 70% as prestored value, and were 20% higher than those stored by slow cooling method. 250000 sq.cm of vitrified skin stored for one to two years were used in 135 operations for major full thickness burns after tangential excision or excision of eschar. The taken-rate was over 94%. The color of skin turned to red within 3-4 days after grafting. There was no blister formation on the surface of grafted skin. If autologous micro-skin were put underneath the stored skin or small pieces of autologous skin were inserted into the small holes of the stored skin, the wounds healed smoothly within six weeks after operation and no further grafting was needed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)