Innovative Use of Fish Skin Accelerates Healing in Extremely Premature Infant with Life-Threatening Wound

In a groundbreaking medical breakthrough, doctors successfully used fish skin to treat a severe, life-threatening wound in a premature infant, demonstrating a promising alternative to traditional skin grafts. Eliana DeVos, born at just 23 weeks of gestation weighing only one pound, faced an intensive 131-day stay in neonatal intensive care due to a rapidly worsening infection on her neck, which was almost like a flesh-eating disease. Her case was critically delicate, as her overall health was fragile.

Her mother, Krystal DeVos from Corpus Christi, Texas, describes her as her "little mermaid," highlighting the remarkable recovery achieved through this innovative treatment. When conventional options such as human skin grafts were off the table because of her extreme prematurity and vulnerability, the medical team at Driscoll Children's Hospital turned to an unconventional method: applying fish skin from wild North Atlantic cod.

The fish skin, produced by Icelandic company Kerecis, functions as a biological scaffold that promotes tissue regeneration. It closely resembles human skin in structure and is rich in omega oils and natural healing elements. To prepare Eliana’s wound, the medical team first used a medical honey solution for cleansing, then applied fish skin to the affected area. This method aimed to induce wound closure by encouraging new skin tissue growth.

The results were remarkable. Just three days following treatment, doctors observed significant improvement, and by ten days, the wound had closed with minimal scarring — all without the need for surgery. Healing continued swiftly, and after three years, her scar remains barely visible. The medical team believes Eliana might be among the first preemies so tiny to receive this type of treatment.

The success of this case highlights the potential of fish skin in wound management, especially for vulnerable populations like infants. While fish skin has seen use in wound care globally, its application in such small infants is rare. Experts acknowledge that other animal tissues, such as pig or cow derivatives, are often used for temporary wound coverage, but fish skin offers unique benefits due to its structural similarities to human skin and its natural healing properties.

Nevertheless, caution is advised, especially regarding potential allergies to fish, which require careful assessment in infants. Still, professionals emphasize that this promising approach could revolutionize treatment options for severe wounds, reducing the need for more invasive procedures.

Eliana’s mother emphasizes the importance of optimism and openness to new solutions in medicine. Her experience exemplifies how innovative treatments coupled with faith in modern science can lead to life-changing outcomes.

For further information, visit the National Institutes of Health page on fish skin for wound dressings.