India News | Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital Launches First-ever 'skin Bank' in City

New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI) The Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital here on Tuesday launched a 'skin bank' in the national capital where deceased donors can donate their skins.

The first in northern India, the skin bank has added another feather to the cap of the hospital, said Dr BL Sherwal Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital.

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The skins which will be donated at the bank can be very helpful in treating burns patients, especially those with extensive burns and with other wounds, Dr Sherwal said.

Dr Shalabh Kumar, head of the department of Burns and Plastic Surgery at the hospital said around 7 to 10 million people sustain burns every year in India. Out of these 1.4 lakhs lives are lost and 1 .5 lakh people develop various deformities.

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“So, the problem is huge and hence we need to tackle it. The cadaveric skin will decrease the mortality and increase the survival rate in these patients and improves the outcome, lessens hospital stay and the overall cost of treatment," Dr Kumar said.

The skin can be donated by any deceased person within six hours of their death and then will be stored, processed in the skin bank and further provided to needy patients.

The donated skin can be stored for three to five years.

No blood group or any other matching is required. Any donated skin can be used to treat any patient.

There is no need for immunosuppressants and steroids in the postoperative period, Dr Kumar said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)