Donated placenta used to help save man’s sight after acid attack

A donated placenta has been used to make a specialist tissue graft and help save the eyesight of an acid attack victim.

Paul Laskey, before his injury Paul Laskey, 43, from Newcastle, was squirted in the face with what was believed to be battery acid, when his 16-year-old son was mugged at knifepoint. He suffered severe chemical burns to his eye and was immediately rushed to hospital, with a significant loss of sight.

The burn caused limbal stem cell failure and severe neurotrophic keratopathy, meaning that the cells within Paul's eye couldn't properly repair or regenerate the surface of the cornea and the nerves within the eye were failing to function properly. As a result, both the inner and outer layers of the cornea broke down, or 'melted', causing extremely limited vision in the affected eye.

Across the course of eight months, Mr Laskey had two emergency corneal transplants and three amnion grafts – tissue taken from the inner lining of a donated placenta, made into small patches by scientists in NHS Blood and Transplant's Tissue and Eye Services and used to treat ocular injuries.

The amnion grafts have served to stabilise the eye, avoid further melting, save the sight that Paul still has and prepare it for further treatment with the aim of restoring full vision.

Amnion grafts

Each donated placenta can be used to make around 50 to 100 amnion grafts, treating patients for eye injuries, burns, diseases and to help protect the eye in the weeks after a cornea transplant. Each patient will normally receive one graft.

Amnion graft Amniotic membrane is a biological product, meaning it will 'stick' very closely to the surface of the eye, to cover exposed nerve endings, reducing pain and the risk of infection and allowing the body to start the healing process.

It is very rich in protein growth factors, which can stimulate the healing process. The amnion will naturally degrade after a few weeks.

NHS Blood and Transplant Cord Blood Bank team collects donated placentas from mothers birthing at University College Hospital, London and Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Bedfordshire. Mothers can choose to donate if delivering via elective caesarean section. The donation process does not interfere with the delivery of the baby.

Donated placentas are transferred to NHSBT’s Tissue and Eye Services, where it is processed, made into thin, translucent amnion grafts, frozen and stored for use.

You can find out more information about placenta donation, including how to register to donate, on our website.

Frequently asked questions

Placenta donation

Who can donate their placenta?

NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services collect placentas, in partnership with maternity staff and NHS Blood and Transplant Cord Blood Bank staff, at two hospitals – University College Hospital, London and Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Bedfordshire. Mothers must be having an elective caesarean section at one of these hospitals.

There are certain illnesses and lifestyle practices which may exclude some mothers from donating.

Does choosing to donate your placenta change your birth plan?

No. Placentas are donated by mothers having elective caesarean sections – the birth itself will go ahead as planned and once both baby and placenta are delivered, the whole placenta and umbilical cord will be processed by NHS Blood and Transplant’s specialist collection team, who work separately to the birthing team. The only change is that the mother will need to give a blood sample on the day of caesarean section.

Does placenta donation affect the baby in any way?

No. The birth experience will be exactly the same whether donating the placenta or not. No blood is ever taken from baby.

What happens after donation?

After the safe delivery of the baby, the whole placenta and umbilical cord will be collected and transferred to NHS Blood and Transplant’s specialist tissue facility in Liverpool, where the tissues will be prepared for transplantation. Mother will need to give a blood sample on the day of birth and may need to give a second around six months after delivery.

Why can you only donate in two locations?

Placentas are collected by the same team who collect umbilical cord blood for stem cell transplants. Cord blood is collected in two hospitals, selected based on the demographics of the maternity patients there, to help reduce health inequalities in stem cell treatments.

Do you need more people to donate placenta?

We are always looking for more mothers to make the kind decision to donate their placentas at the two hospitals we work in – each placenta can help up to 100 people, so by just one more mother saying yes to donation, NHS Blood and Transplant scientists will be able to prepare treatment for many more patients.

Do you need to collect at more hospitals?

We can collect all of the placenta donations we need at these two hospitals and are grateful to all of the mothers who choose to donate.

How can I donate?

Patients who are planning elective caesarean sections at the two selected hospitals may be approached by an NHS Blood and Transplant specialist collection team or healthcare professional, to discuss the option of donating their placenta or cord blood. If not, the patient can ask their healthcare professional for more information.

If you would like to donate, the NHSBT collection team will ask some questions about your medical history, to consent to the donation and to provide a blood sample.

Amniotic membrane / amnion

What are amnion grafts?

Amnion grafts are small translucent patches, made from the inner lining of a donated placenta (the amniotic membrane) and used to treat a number of different injuries to the eye.

How are the amnion grafts made?

After the placenta is removed, it is taken to NHS Blood and Transplant’s processing labs, where the amniotic membrane (the thin, outer lining of the placenta) is removed by Tissue and Eye Bank specialists, made into grafts, decontaminated in antibiotics and frozen. The amnion grafts can be stored, if needed, for up to two years from the date of donation.

What is the amniotic membrane used for?

Amniotic membrane can be used as a graft and a dressing and is particularly useful for eye reconstruction surgery, treating eye injuries and protecting cornea grafts in the weeks after a cornea transplant.

How do the grafts work?

Amniotic membrane is a biological product, meaning it will ‘stick’ very closely to the surface of the eye, to cover exposed nerve endings, reducing pain and the risk of infection and allowing the body to start the healing process. It is very rich in protein growth factors, which can stimulate the healing process. The amnion will naturally degrade after a few weeks.

Does an amnion graft affect the ability to see once it is applied?

Amnion grafts are very thin and translucent, so even when healing, some vision is possible.

Does the amnion graft stay on forever or is it removed?

Amnion is used as a temporary graft and is not expected to stay in place. It is very thin and will gradually disappear on its own.