LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — If you are a parent or familiar with child birth, you know the placenta is part of having a baby.
Sometimes, it gets thrown out, and sometimes new moms find use for it. However, it may be a surprise to know how useful the placenta could be for others.
Recently, FOX5 found out that hospitals in Southern Nevada are using it for burn care. At Sunrise Children’s Hospital, we met 2-year-old Logan who loves his toy cars and uses his hand to drive them with force.
However, a year ago, he burned his hand.
“My wife and I were getting ready in the morning and he came up and grabbed an iron,” said Logan’s dad, who did not wish to disclose his full name.
Logan was rushed to Sunrise Children’s Hospital.
“He had no idea what was happening, but he knew it hurt really bad,” the dad said.
However, doctors had a game plan and wanted to use placenta to help with Logan’s wounds.
“I was immediately fascinated by it. I had to do a double take almost,” his dad said.
Along with using cadaver skin, placenta is a tool doctors use for critical burn care.
“It’s as simple as plant food for plants, this is wound food for wounds this is the most basic stuff your body will break down process right at the interface of the wound,” Dr. Coats said.
Dr. Jay Coats did not treat Logan, but is the medical director at Sunrise Burn and Reconstruction Center.
“It accelerates how quickly the wounds heal and decreases the chance of infection,” Dr. Coats said.
Inside the placenta there is a membrane called amnion which is the key tool.
“If I could treat an entire burn with nothing but amnion, amnion would be the product, so why don’t I? It’s cost prohibited.” Dr. Coats said.
It’s why donations are important so doctors can always have a supply to fit. In 2024, 1,712 patients donated their placenta and attached umbilical cord to the Nevada Donor Network.
As for Logan, it made his recovery a lot easier.
“It helped Logan and I think it can help a lot of other people,” Logan’s dad said.
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