Delhi’s first skin bank begins in Safdarjung Hospital

The Skin Bank, 1st in Delhi and North India was inaugurated by Dr BL Sherwal Medical Superintendent Safdarjung Hospital and Dr Vandana Talwar OSD in the august and eminent presence of Prof Geetika Khanna Principal VMMC, all Addl MS, Dr Shalabh Kumar HOD Dept of Burns and Plastic surgery, senior faculty, and staff. It is a momentous occasion. Skin bank is a bank where the deceased donors can donate their skin.

This Donated skin will be very helpful in treating burns patients especially extensive burns and with other wounds stated Dr Sherwal MS SJH. He added that it is a feather in the cap of the hospital and a significant achievement.

Dr Shalabh HOD Burns & Plastic Surgery told that around 7 to 10 million people sustain burn every year in India. Out of these 1.4 lakhs lives are lost and 1 .5 lakh people develop various deformities. 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 hospitals stay and the overall cost of treatment.

 The skin can be donated by any deceased person within six hours of the death and then will be processed in the skin bank and stored and further provided to the needy patients. Skin can be stored for three to five years. No blood group or any other matching is required. Any donor skin can be used in any patient. There is no need for immuno suppressants and steroids in the post operative period.