The document discusses skin donation and skin banking. It notes that skin is the largest organ and can be donated after death to help save lives of burn victims. Skin donation is similar to organ donation and can provide a temporary skin graft until the victim's skin heals. The document outlines the process of skin donation, harvesting, storage and use for grafts. It emphasizes that increased skin donations are urgently needed in India to help the thousands of burn victims who die each year due to lack of available skin grafts.

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