UNDER THE SKIN
Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin looks after thousands of children with birth defects and skin conditions which affect their appearance, but also, their quality of life. The fourth documentary in this series focuses on the Dermatology and Plastic Surgery departments, where they treat complex and rare conditions or diseases, some of which have no known cure.
From common skin complaints such as excema, to highly unusual conditions such as itchyosis, the Dermatology Department sees more than ten thousand children a year. Lead by Professor Alan Irvine, the department runs busy weekly clinics and frequently join forces with the Plastic Surgery department in order to treat more unusual physical abnormalities and conditions that may require surgery.
A huge number of children are born with birthmarks, and opting to have them removed is difficult decision, requiring in depth and informed consideration from the family and if old enough, the child themselves. In very unusual cases, birth marks can be life threatening and call on the services of many departments in the hospital. Seven year old Daniel Kerr is one such case. He was born with a venus malformation on his neck, something that started as a visible purple vein, but over the years grew to such a stage that it started to put potentially fatal pressure on his airways. This is a highly unusual and complex case, and the Dermatolgy team in Crumlin work together with the Ear, Nose and Throat Department in their quest to find the optimal way to treat Daniel's condition. In order to reduce the malformation, the multidisciplinary team must use cutting edge laser treatments, the results of which often cause a swelling before a reduction. Consequently, it is decided that Daniel must be fitted with a tracheostomy to ensure he can breathe as the treatment is administered. Since the case is so unusual, the surgery requires a novel approach employing a combination of interventions that has never been att
