|
|
 |
| |
 |
|
|
|
Q: Why is donated skin important?
A: Donated skin can be used as a temporary covering for severely burned patients awaiting grafting procedures. The donated skin functions as the burned patient’s own skin for a short time, reducing pain and decreasing the risk of infection. In many cases, the availability of donated skin can help save the lives of burned patients.
Advances in medicine and tissue preservation now make it possible to use skin in other procedures. In addition to use as a temporary skin covering, donated dermal grafts can now be used to replace lost dermis and can significantly reduce scarring, restore mobility and minimize the use of the patient’s own skin. Dermal grafts are also used to fill soft tissue defects as a result of cancer or trauma, to restore bladder control in the treatment of incontinence, in periodontal surgery to correct gingival defects and to faciliate abdominal wall repair for hernias or other injuries.
Q: Who can donate skin?
A: Anyone who is determined to be medically suitable can be a skin donor. Age criteria have been established by your local organ and tissue procurement organization.
Q: How is donated skin recovered?
A: Skin is obtained by a surgical procedure. Skin grafts are typically recovered from the back, abdomen and legs and may vary in thickness from .005” to .035”. In most instances, the procedure takes one to two hours.
Q: Will the body be disfigured?
A: The donor’s body is treated with the utmost respect at all times. After tissue recovery, the donor is appropriately prepared, allowing for an open casket funeral if desired.
Q: How is donated skin prepared for transplantation?
A: Donated skin is prepared for transplantation in one of two ways. The tissue can be prepared by traditional methods of cell preservation which include maintaining cell viability via tissue culture techniques or cryopreservation. More recently, donated skin grafts can be preserved by utilizing advanced technologies to remove the cellular components of the grafts while maintaining the biochemical and structural characteristics. As a result, these donated skin grafts can be transplanted successfully without rejection. This technology greatly expands the clinical applications of donated skin.
Q: How do I get more information regarding tissue donation?
A: You can get more information regarding organ and tissue donation from the Department of Health and Human Service’s Organ Donation Web Site at www.organdonation.gov or at the Coalition on Donation’s Web Site at www.shareyourlife.org. You can also call LifeCell at 800-717-7427 to obtain contact information for your local Organ Procurement Organization. |
|
|
|
|