A woman in her 30s who suffered burns on both legs underwent a “donor cadaveric skin grafting”, or skin transplant, at Charnock Hospital in New Town on Sunday.
A doctor said the burns damaged the skin of the patient’s lower limbs. As a result, there was loss of blood, proteins and electrolytes from the burnt portions. The skin transplant will help prevent the loss. The recovery will be faster and less painful, said the doctor.
Unlike transplant of organs like liver, kidney, heart or lungs, skin transplant has not taken off in a major way in the state yet. The number of skin transplant cases are few and far between, said an official of the state health department. SSKM Hospital has a skin bank.
A doctor who is treating the woman at Charnock Hospital said they procured the skin from outside the state. “The skin has been transported from Sangli Sushruta Burn Hospital in Sangli, Maharashtra,” said Ipsita Kundu, chief executive officer of Charnock Hospital. “We want more people to know that skin transplant is an option available in the city.”