Doctors Use Laser to Strip Away Teenager’s Burned Skin

Two days after near electrocution left him burned over 85% of his body, Michael Halsell underwent three hours of surgery Wednesday, the first in what could be a long series of operations facing the Newbury Park teen.

The 17-year-old remained in extremely critical condition after the operation at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. But Dr. A. Richard Grossman said his team of six physicians--who had spent the morning carefully stripping away layers of burned skin from Michael’s hands, arms and chest--were relieved to see their horribly injured patient still alive.

“The fact that he survived this surgery and is resting comfortably has a promising effect on my nurses, my doctors,” Grossman said.

Although he is encouraged by his patient’s progress, Grossman said Michael’s chances for survival are still not good.

“They are slim--I think we have to be realistic about that,” he said.

Michael received third-degree burns over most of his body Monday afternoon while rappelling off a tower carrying high voltage lines atop the Conejo Grade. A bolt of electricity, up to 220,000 volts, shot through his body and set his clothing on fire, burning his skin and searing his muscles.

Since then, Michael Halsell’s family and friends have maintained a constant watch at the burn center, with family members sitting at his bedside and classmates bringing him get-well messages.

Doctors waited until 8 a.m. Wednesday to make sure Michael was stable enough for surgery, then began removing his dead skin with a laser. They covered the open wounds with five square feet of cadaver skin to prevent infection to the underlying tissue.

Grossman said the process of removing Michael’s burned skin is not complete. Doctors left work on his back and thighs until early next week, allowing his body some time to recover between operations.

In the meantime, physicians at the center are anxiously monitoring Michael’s internal condition. His body is struggling to deal with waste products generated by the burned tissue, Grossman said. Doctors are also giving Michael blood transfusions--about 14 units so far--to replace blood cells killed by the electrical shock.

If Michael’s condition continues to improve, doctors will probably use unburned skin from the back of his scalp to replace dead tissue on his face, Grossman said. They may use more cadaver skin to permanently replace burned skin on the rest of his body, feeding him medication to prevent his body from rejecting the foreign tissue.

Despite the teen’s grave condition, Grossman said it was remarkable that Michael was still alive.

“He’s alive today because he’s 17 years old, he’s strong and healthy and he has a will to survive,” Grossman said.