Treatment Steps

The following is an overview of the treatment and recovery process with EPICEL. For more detailed information, please consult the treating physician. You may also review the Patient Information for EPICEL (PDF).

  1. Soon after the patient is admitted to the hospital, the patient’s burns are cleaned and treated in a process called excision. A temporary graft is placed over the patient’s burns at this time – either allograft (skin taken from an organ donor) or another natural or synthetic skin substitute. This temporary graft helps protect against infection and fluid loss until a permanent graft can be placed.
  2. If the physician determines that the patient is an appropriate candidate to receive EPICEL, a sample, or biopsy, of the patient’s healthy skin is taken. This biopsy is sent to Genzyme, and used to create EPICEL for the patient.
  3. During the 2-3 weeks that Epicel is being made, the patient’s temporary grafts are carefully monitored to prevent infection. A day or two before the EPICEL grafts are placed, the temporary grafts may be removed and a protective dressing is applied until surgery.
  4. The patient’s EPICEL is delivered directly to the operating room at the time of the scheduled surgery and immediately applied on top of the patient’s wounds. A delicate, petrolatum-based gauze on the back of EPICEL helps protect it and hold it in place. One or more surgical dressings, such as gauze or bandages, are applied on top of this to protect EPICEL grafts while they heal.
  5. Over the next few days grafted areas are immobilized to allow the grafts to heal. The surgical dressings are periodically removed to expose the grafts to air, and then replaced. At this time, protective clothing needs to be worn by anyone who comes into contact with the patient, to help prevent infection.
  6. 7-10 days after EPICEL is placed, the surgical staples and the gauze backing on EPICEL are removed, in a procedure called “takedown.” Surgical dressings are applied, and continue to be removed and replaced daily. The patient may be able to start gentle range of motion exercises at this point, under the physician’s guidance.
  7. Approximately 4-6 weeks after EPICEL grafts are placed, surgical dressings can be removed for good, and the patient can resume physical activity, as determined by the patient’s physician. Most patients will need to stay in the hospital and recover for several more weeks after this, depending on the extent and severity of their burns. Pressure garments may be used at this time to help promote the healing process.
  8. In the months that follow, EPICEL grafts continue to heal and scarring becomes less visible. Learn more about long-term care of EPICEL.

For more information about treatment and recovery with EPICEL, please consult your physician.