The human tissue squad. 2/2.

This programme explores the contribution of human tissue donation to medical science by following the work of staff at Liverpool’s National Human Tissue Bank. The programme begins by following the administrative process by specialist referral nurses ascertaining consent for tissue donation from a deceased’s next-of-kin. Tissue donor specialists collect arm and leg bone tissue from a rare young male donor. The donor specialists exhibit prosthetic replacements for the donor. 18-year-old Rueben is introduced, who has a chondroblastoma in his knee, and is awaiting a donation of a femoral head. Tissue donor specialists collect leg bones and skin from a deceased male donor. The programme follows a specialist referral nurse taking a difficult donor consent call regarding a deceased 25-year-old male. 25-year-old George is introduced, who was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition and is awaiting a donation of a cornea. George describes the different contact lenses he needs to wear. Specialist referral nurses discuss the emotional difficulties they encounter within their role. At Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Rueben undergoes a tumour removal and femoral head transplant. Surgeons at BROH explain the process of preparing the donor bone for transplant surgery, involving the use of a medical meat grinder to grind the donated femoral heads into bone graft. Tissue donor specialists collect the skin and bone tissue of a 50-year-old deceased man. 27-year-old Daniel is introduced, who suffered a severe sports injury and is awaiting a donation of a meniscus that is an exact fit. At Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, George undergoes a partial-graft cornea transplant using donor tissue. Tissue donor specialists collect the heart, meniscus, pericardium, skin, and tendons from a deceased male donor. At St Cross Hospital, Rugby, Daniel undergoes a lateral meniscal transplant using donor tissue.