Use of cadaver skin in the treatment of wounds

Abstract

The article has reviewed the world experience and main trends in the preparation of cadaveric skin for use in the treatment of patients with wounds of various etiologies. The history of the question is described from the first attempts of transplantation of the native skin to the creation of specialized banks of allogenic decellularized tissue grafts. Presented are the modern approaches of donor material conservation, specifically, to the principle and topical question: whether the viability of the cells should be preserved in the graft, or it is more efficient to transplant the skin devoid of cellular elements. The advantages and disadvantages of lyophilized grafts have been described, namely the possibility of long-term storage, but loss of elasticity, after rehydration. The methods of cryoconservation of cutaneous allografts, their properties, and acceptable methods of sterilization have been discussed. A perspective technology of graft decellularization has been assessed and the methodologies of their manufacturing have briefly been presented.