Donations of skin for burns survivors

Australia has sent 20,000 square centimetres of allograft skin to help survivors of the Whakaari/ White Island volcanic eruption.

Another 1.2 million square centimetres shipped from the United States will arrive today to treat the deep-tissue burns suffered by those still clinging to life. The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria and the Organ and Tissue Donation Service in Sydney both sent 10,000 square centimetres each. The Queensland Skin Culture Centre remains on standby to also send some. Eight Australians have died. Several survivors, who were wearing summer clothing when they were touring the active volcano site on Monday, have burns to up to 80 per cent of their bodies.

Many also ingested ash and volcanic gases, resulting in horrific injuries to their lungs and airways, leaving them unable to talk. All patients suffered burns requiring repair, according to Peter Watson, chief medical officer at Counties Manukau Health. ‘‘We currently have supply but are urgently sourcing additional supplies to meet the demand addressing temporary skin grafts,’’ he said.

The allograft skin is surgically grafted over the burns – without which many would have no chance of survival.

It is applied to the wounds after dead tissue is removed and is stapled over the burn.

‘‘The layers that we provide are essentially the epidermis which is the top layer of skin and a small lawyer of dermis underneath the skin,’’ said Dr Stefan Poniatowski, head of the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria.

‘‘The immune system of the recipient will reject the epidermis layer but the dermis will actually incorporate and provide a nice healthy wound bed for the patients’ own skin to be grown or applied over the top.

‘‘The allograft skin will be rejected but it becomes a temporary biological dressing.’’

The skin is collected from deceased donors, with a layer the thickness of a sunburn peel taken from the legs and back.

The allograft skin is stored in liquid nitrogen and safely kept at ultra-low temperatures for up to five years. There are only three skin banks in Australia, and the New Zealand donation has had a ‘‘significant impact’’ on available supplies.

Poniatowski said all three centres were preparing more allograft stock for release to meet the increased demand as patients were repatriated to Australia where they could face years of treatment.

Major events have tested skin stockpiles in the past, particularly in the Bali bombings in 2002, and stocked were wiped out by Victoria’s Black Saturday fires in 2009. – AAP

For all the sunny and calm conditions to welcome the Ovation of the Seas to Wellington yesterday morning, a gloomy pall hung over the cruise ship, its journey marked by the tragedy of a few days earlier.

For some passengers, the cruise had ended instantly on Whakaari/White Island or shortly thereafter.

Others are still fighting for their lives in unimaginable pain in hospitals around New Zealand. And for the vast majority – thankfully – the trip continues, albeit curtailed and with varying degrees of relief and sadness.

After their arrival in Wellington from Tauranga delayed by 24 hours, cruise passengers put on brave faces as they explored the usual capital attractions – Zealandia, Te Papa, Lambton Quay and the cable car.

Those willing to speak to Stuff spoke of sadness, the surreal feeling on the ship, and trying to work out who were victims of the eruption.

Australian couple Stephanie and Alan Nicholas, from Rockhampton, Queensland, noted with a sense of relief that the tragedy could have been even worse because the island trip had had more interested parties than capacity allowed.

They had spent the day in Tauranga with their children. When they returned to the ship just after 5pm, they heard of the eruption when a fellow passenger showed them the news on a phone.

‘‘It’s very sad and everyone is trying to come to terms with what’s happened,’’ said Stephanie, adding that there was a subdued feeling on the boat.

Everyone on board has been offered counselling, Tauranga tours had been cancelled and refunded, and they’d all watched the ceremony at the port from the top decks.

‘‘There wasn’t a sound. It was very moving.’’

While some passengers are said to have disembarked to return home, Alan and Stephanie decided to continue the trip – even though their thoughts were really