1. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
SKIN DONATION AND
SKIN BANKING
Dr SM Keswani
RC Bombay North Skin Bank
National Burns Centre
with EURO SKIN BANK
Airoli, Navi Mumbai
smkeswani@gmail.com
1

2. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Most popular organ donation in terms of life-saving is
blood and hence most meaningful

Eye donation is fast becoming popular, and one is
aware of the possibility to donate eyes after death

Kidneys and liver are donated as well but this is
less common due to complexities involved

The next achievable donation will be human skin.
2

3. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
3

4. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Is the largest organ of the human body

It protects and drapes the body

It also supports the entire cosmetic
industry

The most common cause of skin damage is
burns
4

5. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
Thermal Burns
Dry Burns – Flame
Scald Burns
5

6. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National
Burns Centre, www.burnsindia.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
Chemical Burns –
Acid, Alkali
Electrical Burns –
Electrical Spark and
Electrical Shock
Radiation Burns – Nuclear,
Sunburn, X-Rays
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7. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com


Body surface area
Intensity of burn (Partial thickness/Full thickness)
7

8. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
 India
records 70 lakh burn injury cases annually
 Of which 1.4 lakh people die every year.
 Around 70% of all burn injuries occur in the most
productive age group (15-35 yrs).
 Around four out of five burnt cases are women and
children.
 As many as 80% of cases admitted are a
result of accidents at kitchen-related
accidents.


Source: Union Ministry of Health (Govt. of India)
Reported by Times of India
8

9. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

The body’s first line of defense

Is water proof and prevents infection from entering
the body

When severely damaged, the defense mechanism
breaks down

If untreated, bacterial infection, dehydration, loss of
protein and electrolytes takes place

Ultimately the victim dies
9

10. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre, www.burnsindia.com, nbcairoli@gmail.com

When skin is damaged it either



Heals on its own
or
Needs donor skin or a graft
This grafted skin provides comfort and prevents
fluid loss and infection
‘SAVES THE LIFE OF A BURN VICTIM’
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11. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Permanent skin cover:


Autograft – From the victim’s unaffected area
Temporary skin cover:



Homograft – Live Donor
Allograft – Cadaver Donor
Xenograft – Porcine Pigs and Bovine Cows
11

12. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre, www.burnsindia.com, nbcairoli@gmail.com

Most preferred donor skin

Only the superficial layers of the skin are harvested
from thighs and back

No disfigurement

No bleeding

No matching is required

Can be harvested in 45 minutes

Should be harvested within 6 hours after death
12

13. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
People expired due to:

HIV and Hepatitis negative

Skin disease

Cancer

Active Jaundice

Sexually transmitted disease

Severe infection
13

14. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Retrieval

Processing

Storage

Distribution

Medical documentation
Donated skin is a boon to patients with
burns
14

15. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
Dermatome with blade
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16. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre,
www.burns-india.com, nbcairoli@gmail.com
Cleaning with Betadine
16

17. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre,
www.burns-india.com, nbcairoli@gmail.com
17

18. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns Centre,
www.burns-india.com, nbcairoli@gmail.com
18

19. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
DRESSING THE BODY AFTER SKIN HARVESTING
19

20. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Skin can be stored for a longer time by reducing its
metabolism by reducing its temperature

4-6 deg C (Normal Fridge)
3-4wks

-40 deg C (CO2 Snow)
6 months

-196 deg C(Liq N2)
1 yr

Glycerol 85%
3-5 yrs
20

21. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
Supported by :
 RC Bombay North
 RC Deonar
 RC Bombay Worli
 RC Bombay Juhu Beach
 RC Ghatkopar
 RC Airoli Linktown
 INNER WHEEL Dist 3140
 ROTARY Dist 3140
21

22. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Mumbai city alone needs 2000 skin donations a year
i.e. 5 a day!!

Present supply is 5 a month!!

So many patients are DYING

So many precious human lives could have been saved
if ENOUGH donor skin was available
22

23. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Free availability of skin grafts could help in keeping
the victim alive

If anyone truly wishes to help burn patients, please
consider post-mortem skin donations, much like you
might consider donation of other organs

No religion explicitly prohibits organ donation
23

24. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Do inform your family as your next
of kin will be asked to make the
final decision about you becoming
a donor, even if you are
registered.

It is important that he or she is
aware of your wishes before an
emergency arises
24

25. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Skin Bank is a service. It is not a product. It can only
work with the cooperation and coordination of the
people, for the people.

National Organ Transplant Act prevents the purchase
and sale of donor organs.
25

26. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com
“You give but little when you give of your
possessions. It is only when you give of yourself
that you truly give”
-Kahlil Gibran
The Prophet
26

27. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

Those willing to donate skin can contact



Burns Helpline
27793333 (24x7
ser vice)
Website- www.skindonation.in
Those of you who wish to increase awareness of Skin
donation can visit National Burns Centre - Airoli
27

28. Dr. Sunil Keswani, National Burns
Centre, www.burns-india.com,
nbcairoli@gmail.com

DONATE SKIN AND SAVE A LIFE
NATIONAL BURNS CENTRE, Airoli, Navi Mumbai
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