Then and Now: 25 years at the Ljubljana Burns Unit Skin Bank

Abstract

The skin bank of the burns unit in Ljubljana was established in 1973 and has since then been supplying homografts solely to the patients treated at this unit. It has evolved from being the burns unit skin bank to the national skin bank. At present all the burn victims from Slovenia by whom the allograft skin is needed in the course of treatment are admitted to this burns unit. The exclusion criteria for skin donors have now become much more strict than were 25 years ago. Cadaveric skin is now processed and preserved by glycerolisation or exceptionally used as fresh in comparison to 1973 when skin was stored frozen at −28°C. At present donors in 90% of cases are multiorgan donors or deceased patients from the clinical centre part of which is the burns unit. Harvesting, processing and preservation of the skin have been performed by the burns unit and theatre staff since the foundation of this skin bank. The burns unit with its skin bank has been totally self sufficient in supplying cadaveric skin since 1973. The organisation of the skin bank is simple and the cost of the cadaveric skin from this skin bank is reduced to a minimum.