Most people are aware that eyes and other organs are donated after death, but the concept of skin donation is relatively unknown in India, noted Dr Vispi Jokhi, chief cultural officer of Masina Hospital, in his blog "Musings, Own Thoughts.”
Having experimented with various methods of skin cover for burn injury victims, Bombay’s Masina Hospital has pioneered a skin bank, creating Indian standards and protocols for harvesting skin deemed the largest organ in the human body.
Above l: Dr Vispi Jokhi; above r: Kharas burns unit at Masina Hospital
Jokhi specified the skin should be harvested within six to eight hours of the donor’s death after consent has been given by the next of kin. A team of trained personnel from the skin bank, comprising a doctor, a nurse and an attendant will be sent to the donor’s residence for the procedure. Skin is harvested from the legs, thighs and back. Only the uppermost layer (of eight layers) of the skin is removed. Normally, there is no bleeding and the minimal secretion of bodily fluids is taken care of and neatly bandaged. The procedure requires the use of a special instrument called the dermatome and takes an hour or two to complete. Donated skin is used to treat patients with severe burns, to cover areas of lost skin after accidents or diabetes. The helpline of the Masina Skin Bank is 1800 266 0711.
In 2020, Dr Suhas Abhyankar, plastic and reconstructive surgeon and consultant at Masina Hospital’s Eric Kharas Burns Research Unit, had treated 15-year-old Ervad Zahan Turel who had suffered 48.5% burns on his neck, chest, abdomen, upper arms, etc while tending to the fire at Goti Adarian in Surat on October 24 (see "A burning problem,” Parsiana, November 21-December 6, 2020).
There are no specific requirements for skin donors regarding age, gender or blood group. The only caveat is that the donor should not be suffering from any sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, Hepatitis B or C, septicemia, skin cancer or any other skin diseases. Also barred are those who have had any blood transfusion for two years prior to skin donation.
S. V.