“My Little Mermaid” is the nickname that Krystal Devos gives his daughter Eliana, three years old. And for a good reason, the latter was saved at birth thanks to a fishing skin treatment in a hospital in Texas (United States), CNN reports on June 2.
Born prematurely, Eliana weighed only 450 g when she was born. Then he joined an intensive care unit. But the baby developed an infection that could have been deadly in the neck. For his mother, “it was almost like a devour meat disease.”
To this infection added septicemia. After being transferred to another hospital and received several treatments, Eliana’s situation did not improve. Surgery and human skin transplant are too risky for a premature baby, nursing staff made a surprising proposal for the baby’s family: apply fish skin on the neck.
“It is so close to human skin at the microscopic level that it promotes the healing of the wound,” explains Vanessa Dimas, pediatric plastic surgeon at the Driscoll hospital, where Eliana was treated.
Rare use
After applying a honey solution to clean the wound, the surgeon applied a mixture of this fish solution and skin in the area of suffering. This product manufactured by the Isrecis Kerecis company of Wild Cod Skin served as a support to help grow the new skin tissue.
“Once he did his job, helping the wound to heal, he simply melts,” said Vanessa Dimas.
This original treatment was perfectly tolerated by Eliana. However, the use of fish skin in children is rare, especially when it comes to babies. In addition, skins of other species are sometimes used to help healing wounds, such as pigs, says Arun Gosain, president of the plastic surgery section of the American Pediatric Academy and head of the Plastic Surgery Service at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Chicago Hospital.
Three days after the application of fish skin on Eliana’s neck, the results were “spectacular,” says the surgeons. 10 days later, the wound was cured and the minimum scar.
“There was no undesirable reaction and no additional surgery was needed,” said Vanessa Dimas.
In total, he spent 131 days in the hospital before he could join his family. At three years, Eliana “has no idea” of what happened to him, but his mother plans to “show his photos and explain what happened” when he is bigger. “It is part of its history and is so unique.”
Source: BFM TV
