[The intermingled transplantation used in severe burn patients after eschar excision]

In the early developing stage of burn surgery, severe burn patients with large and deep burn wound often died of complications because of shortage of auto-skin. The method of intermingled transplantation composed of a large sheet of partial thickness allo-skin with punched holes for in laying small pieces of partial thickness auto-skin was first advocated by Chinese doctors (Ruijin Hospital) in 1960's. This intermingled transplantation method has saved many severe burn patients with extensive full-thickness burn wound. The mortality rate of severe burn patients has decreased and the survival rate has increased remarkably since the intermingled transplantation treatment method used in the burn units. In this paper we review the process of formation of intermingled transplantation and the mechanisms of success of this Chinese method in repairing the large wound surface area after eschar excision. We will focus our discussion on the low systemic immunological reaction, the effect of auto-skin islet, local immunological tolerance induced by in layed auto skin, the balance of Th1 and Th2 cells and the effects of some cytokines such as IL-10 in local immunological tolerance and etc. after intermingled transplantation.