Treatment of deep second-degree burns on the abdomen, thighs, and genitalia treatment: use of tilapia skin as a xenograft
Tratamento de queimaduras de segundo grau profundo em abdômen, coxas e genitália: uso de pele de tilápia como um xenoenxerto

Mr. Editor

I read with great interest the article “Treatment of deep second degree burns in the abdomen, thighs, and genitalia: use of tilapia skin as a xenograft,” published in the Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica¹. The article describes a clinical case of conservative treatment of a deep second-degree burn with biological dressing. Even aware that part of the collagen in the tilapia skin resides in the recipient bed², I would like the authors to comment on the following aspects:

Finally, I would like to declare my great admiration for the work of Dr. Edmar Maciel Lima Júnior’s team about the use of tilapia skin to treat large superficial 2nd-degree burns.

REFERENCES

1. Lima Júnior EM, Moraes MO, Costa BA, Uchôa AMN, Martins CB, Moraes MEA, et al. Tratamento de queimaduras de segundo grau profundo em abdômen, coxas e genitália: uso de pele de tilápia como um xenoenxerto. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2020;35(2):243-8.

2. Bezerra LRPS, Moraes Filho MO, Bruno ZV, Lima Júnior EM, Alves APNN, Bilhar APM, et al. Tilapia skin fish: a new biological graft in gynecology. Rev Med UFC. 2018 Jun;58(2):6-8.

3. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Portaria de Consolidação no 4, de 28 de setembro de 2017. Consolidação das normas sobre os sistemas e os subsistemas do Sistema Único de Saúde [Internet]. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2017; [citado 2020 Ago 13]. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2017/prc0004_03_10_2017.html

4. LIU HF, ZHANG F, LINEAWEAVER WC. HISTORY AND ADVANCEMENT OF BURN TREATMENTS. ANN PLAST SURG. 2017 FEV;78(SUPL 1):S2-S8.

1. Hospital João XXIII, Burns Treatment Unit, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Corresponding author: Rodrigo Pimenta Sizenando, Avenida Constelações, 725, Prédio 3, Apto. 302 Vale dos Cristais, Nova Lima, MG, Brazil Zip Code: 34008-050. E-mail: rodrigosizenando@hotmail.com

Dear Rodrigo,

I appreciate your interest in the subject and your kind words of praise for our research development. Let’s answer some of your questions:

In the vast majority of the Brazilian public health system, dressings for minor burns are performed with 2% silver sulfadiazine ointment, generating daily dressing changes, significant pain, increased teamwork, and increased treatment costs. We do not believe that an aquatic animal’s skin, with a quality sterilization process, combined with gamma irradiation, can cause the possibility of pathogen transmission.

Our country has only four allogeneic skin banks (the Ministry of Health says it has 13), well assembled, equipped, and well managed, but with a low production to meet the demand for public burn services. We believe that this ordinance should be revised since the benefits of temporary dressings are unquestionable at the most varied levels of extent and depth of burns.

There are deep second-degree burns, the treatment of which can be carried out with the removal of fibrin in the balneotherapy room, with intervals of longer days (3 to 6 days). During this period, dressings with tilapia xenograft can be used, without the need to use tangential excisions and early grafts, with a reduction in this procedure’s morbidity and an acceptable healing process.

1. Tilapia Skin Research Coordinator

Article received: August 13, 2020.
Article accepted: November 10, 2020.