Amniotic membrane is extracted from the placenta after elective Cesarean section. After delivery of the newborn, the placenta is removed and sent to the Treviso Tissue Bank, where accurate clinical and serological analyses are performed before it is treated at the laboratory. The amniotic membrane (or amnios) extracted from the placenta is a tissue consisting of a single layer of epithelial cells lying on a basal membrane anchored to a collagen stroma covering a viscous gelatinous fluid. This tissue is not immunogenic, so it can be transplanted without any need for immunosuppressive therapy and with no risk of rejection.

It has anti-adhesive, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory properties; it reduces angiogenesis and inhibits fibroblast function, thereby containing the formation of scar tissue, preventing collagen degradation and facilitating re-epithelization in vitro and in vivo. Amniotic membrane consequently has several properties of particular interest that make it suitable for a variety of applications.

Nowadays it is mainly used in:

• ocular surgery: to treat corneal ulcers, reconstruct the conjunctiva and deal with corneal epithelial defects;
• dermatological surgery: as a scarring agent in torpid ulcers and for minor skin reconstruction procedures; and in severe burns patients for the topical treatment of burns and preparatory to skin auto-transplants;
• gynecological surgery: for repairing omphalocele;
• general surgery: to prevent postoperative adhesions;
• orthopedic surgery: a the barrier tissue or in association with spongy bone reconstruction procedures.