Achieving self-sufficiency in skin allograft: A Singapore experience.

Chong, Si Jack; Low, Zhen Luan; Yick, Jialin; Khoo, Yik Cheong; Chua, Alvin Wen Choong · Burns · 2024

other · Level V

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Abstract

This paper describes how Singapore achieved skin allograft self-sufficiency in 2017 by adopting 5 key strategies in 2012. Singapore General Hospital (SGH) established its own allograft recovery programme in 1998 but was still dependent on overseas allograft procurement. RESULTS: The allograft recovery programme expanded from 4 to all 20 institutions. Donor referrals increased by 42.9% from 35 in 2014 to over 50 currently. Donor numbers increased by 210%, rising from 4.5 per year before 2015 to an average of 14 per year from 2015 to 2022. The total allografts recovered increased by 223%, climbing from 13,000 to 42,000 annually. Cryopreservation was adopted, extending shelf life to 5.5 years and doubling storage capacity to more than 140,000 cm<sup>2</sup> in 2022. Singapore achieved skin allograft self-sufficiency with no overseas procurement since 2017.

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