80% of his body was burned: A man in Lviv was treated with fish and pig skin
Oleg Tynryk, a 36-year-old resident of Lviv, suffered burns over 80% of his body following a water heater explosion. He spent three weeks in intensive care, was on a ventilator for 12 days, and underwent more than 25 anesthetic procedures. To cover the wounds and help his skin heal, doctors used special dressings made from pig and fish skin.
The accident occurred when Oleg and a neighbor went to help a friend whose apartment had flooded. The problem was caused by a water heater that they had tried to repair the day before. When the three men entered the bathroom, the water heater suddenly exploded. The men were doused with boiling water.
The apartment’s owner sustained the least severe injuries. Oleg and his neighbor, however, suffered burns covering approximately 80% of their bodies. “I don’t remember how I ran out. I remember lying on the tile floor, looking at my hand, and the skin was just peeling off in large chunks,” Oleg recalls.
All three victims were taken to the Thermal Trauma Center at St. Luke’s Hospital. The apartment owner received the necessary treatment and then continued his recovery at home. Oleg and his neighbor were admitted to the intensive care unit. Their condition was extremely critical. Doctors fought to save both men’s lives.
Oleg underwent more than 25 anesthesias
The man had almost no undamaged skin left. Only his back remained relatively intact. Due to the large area of burns, doctors had to constantly remove dead tissue. Afterward, the wounds had to be covered with special materials to protect them and allow the skin to heal.
For different parts of the body, doctors used xenografts—patches made from pig skin. On his torso, they applied patches made from fish skin, specifically cod. During the first week after admission, Oleg was in the operating room practically every day. He underwent surgeries and painful dressing changes under general anesthesia. “It was a complex case due to the very large burn area. During the first week, the patient was in the operating room every day. This included both surgical procedures and dressing changes under general anesthesia to minimize pain. In total, Oleg underwent more than 25 anesthetic procedures in a month,” said Ivan Ryk, head of the Center for Thermal Trauma and Plastic Surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital.
In addition, Oleg spent 12 days on a ventilator. In total, he remained in the intensive care unit for about three weeks. Doctors treated his roommate in the same way. Both men eventually survived their severe burns and returned home.
A Long Road to Recovery Lies Ahead
Oleg is now able to stand up and walk on his own. However, he cannot yet fully return to his normal life. Due to his severe burns and prolonged treatment, it is still difficult for him to move freely. He says that after such an experience, it’s especially important not to give up, even when movement causes pain. “I feel much better now. I can already stand up, balance myself, and walk on my own. It’s not even comparable to before, when I was lying there like a vegetable, to put it bluntly. The main thing is to stay mentally strong. If you don’t walk because of the pain, you could end up stuck in that state for a long time. No matter what, you have to get up and move,” Oleg said.
He also thanked the medical staff who fought to save his life over the course of several weeks. Oleg and his neighbor are now continuing their recovery at home. A long rehabilitation process and a gradual return to mobility still lie ahead for them. St. Luke’s Hospital is part of Lviv’s First Medical Association.
