PNEUMOPERITONEUM-ASSISTED HARVESTING OF SPLIT-THICKNESS SKIN-GRAFTS FROM THE ABDOMEN

Harvesting split-thickness skin grafts from the abdomen is difficult w hen using a conventional hand dermatome. Ln this study, pneumoperitone um was created in 10 patients before skin grafts were taken. No compli cations arose from the insufflation, and the conventional dermatome wa s then easy to use. Pneumoperitoneum provides more abdominal surface a rea, allowing the surgeon to harvest a greater number of larger, more uniform grafts during a single procedure, even when working near an an atomical protuberance.