India’s capital attains a historic success in harvesting the skin of a deceased at AIIMS, New Delhi.

A 42-year-old woman succumbed to death at AIIMS Trauma Centre due to severe injuries after an accident, and her husband consented to her skin and eye donation after the counseling of the ORBO Transplant Coordinator.

Dr. Maneesh Singhal, Head of the Plastic Surgery Department at AIIMS, explained the skin transplantation process:

Harvesting: within 8-10 hours of death

Processing: minimum of 6 weeks

Storage: 5 years

Preservation: 85% glycerol under 4-5 degrees Celsius

No blood group or HLA matching is required.

Eligibility criteria include:

Children < 18 years old are not eligible

Elderly >80 years: skin suitable for donation only within 6 hours of demise

Individuals with infectious diseases, severe infections, or skin cancer are ineligible

India witnesses burns among 70 lakh people and burn-related deaths in 1.5 lakh patients, and it is challenging to acquire skin for patients with >40% burns.

This success is a silver lining for those who have suffered burns and accidents and will encourage individuals and families to donate skin.