Page 43 - Virtual Vascular Vol 16
P. 43
After a period of VAC dressing, a sizable wound still remains and is deemed
suitable for skin grafting.
A split-thickness skin graft is harvested with a Zimmer electric dermatome.
This one is calibrated to 0.012 inches thick.
A common donor site is the upper anterior thigh. The skin graft is inserted into a roller which cuts it into a mesh.
Split-thickness skin grafts harvest the epidermis and part of the dermis. “Meshing” the graft allows:
The donor site will appear white initially with petechial hemorrhage. 1. Coverage of larger surface areas
The deeper the cut, the more profuse the bleeding. 2. Drainage of blood and serum that would otherwise accumulate
If you see subcutaneous fat, you are in way too deep . under the graft causing hematoma, seroma, and delayed healing 43
