The Critical Shortage of Donated Tissue - Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria (DTBV)

The ABC 7.30 Report on Monday 11 January, 2016 featured a story on the critical shortage of donated tissues facing the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria and the broader community.

The story (which is also available on ABC News online) involved Kate Sanderson, an ultra-marathon runner who received burns to 65 per cent of her body after becoming caught in a fire in Western Australia, and Hamish Pownall who was born with a malfunctioning aortic heart valve. It also featured Jack Adams whose organs and tissues have helped up to 30 people including a corneal tissue recipient.

The benefits of using donated skin tissue on serious burn injuries

The use of allograft skin stabilises the wounds, reduces infection and critical fluid loss, promotes healing of the wound bed and makes the patient far more comfortable. With time bought with the use of donor skin, the patient’s own skin can be cultured in the laboratory and applied to the patient for later grafting. Long term scarring is very much reduced with the use of donor skin.

Donated skin undoubtedly saves lives and improves long term outcomes.

Read more about skin tissue

ABC News online, Monday 11 January 2016
“We’re short in everything, absolutely everything,” Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria senior scientist Kellie Hamilton said.
“We desperately need skin to be able to treat burns. We’re coming into bushfire season and that’s always a critical time for us.”
Read more…

MEDIA LINKS

ABC 7.30 Report, Broadcast: 11 January 2016
Australia is facing a critical shortage of donated tissue, including skin, bones, heart valves and tendons.
Reporter: Emily Stewart