E. Clyde Smoot

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen on reperfusion of ischemic axial skin flaps: a laser Doppler analysis.

This study evaluates the microvascular reperfusion of ischemic skin flaps with and without acute hyperbolic oxygen (HBO) treatment. Thirty-two axial pattern epigastric skin flaps (3 x 6 cm) in male Wistar rats were subjected to 8 hours of global ischemia by pedicle clamp occlusion. The rats were divided into the following control and two experimental groups: Control (n = 12) with ischemia, no HBO; Group 1 (n = 11) with HBO treatment (three 1.75-hour dives, 2.5 absolute atm, 100% O2) during ischemia; and Group 2(n = 9) with HBO treatment (two 1.75-hour dives) immediately after ischemia. Laser Doppler flows were recorded in two distal standardized flap locations at 0.5, 2, 4, and 18 hours after reperfusion in control rats and Group 1 rats and at 18 hours only in Group 2 rats, using a Med-Pacific 6000 laser Doppler unit. Mean distal flap laser Doppler flows (mV) were Control: 0.5 hours=23.2 ± 11.9, 2 hours=52.8 ± 27.3,4hours=53.6 ± 32.1,18hours=40.2 ± 36.2; Group 1: 0.5 hours=71.8 ± 30.9 (p<0.05 vs. control), 2 hours=74.3 ± 27.3, 4 hours=67.4 ± 20.6, 18 hours=79.1 ± 40.3 (p<0.05 vs. control); and Group 2:18 hours=90.3 ± 47.9 (p<0.05 vs. control). It is concluded that acute HBO treatment of ischemic rat skin flaps improves distal microvascular perfusion as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. This effect is observed for HBO treatment given either during or immediately after prolonged global ischemia. Although the mechanism of this beneficial effect on the microcirculation remains unknown, these results correlate with earlier findings that HBO treatment improves survival of rat axial skin flaps subjected to prolonged global ischemia.

IN VITRO TOXICITY TESTING FOR ANTIBACTERIALS AGAINST HUMAN KERATINOCYTES

The use of cultured human keratinocytes in an in vitro comparison of topical antibacterial toxicity for epithelial cells was examined. The complement of three assessments allows testing of epithelial migration, growth, and survival. The three assessments included (1) flow cytometry for determination of cell survival, (2) a comparison of confluent cell culture growth after antibacterial exposures, and (3) an evaluation of cell migration using a technique of dermal explains to study radial migration. A comparative ranking of the toxicities of the various topical antibacterials was determined with the three assessments. This has confirmed anecdotal reports that many of the topical antibacterials are cell-toxic and may inhibit wound healing. This information can be directly extrapolated to the clinical setting, unlike many of the animal data for wound healing that currently exist.

Five percent mafenide acetate solution in the treatment of thermal injuries.

A 5% mafenide acetate solution was used in the treatment of 669 patients with thermal injuries. This solution was used as the initial topical antibacterial agent in the treatment of the acute burn wound in 276 patients. It was initiated during the intermediate and chronic phases of burn wound therapy in 393 patients. Acid-base derangements did not occur. Discontinuation of therapy because of the patients pain was necessary in fewer than 1% (17 of 669) of all patients treated. The incidence of rash and pruritus was extremely low. Effective antibacterial activity was achieved. This solution appears to be an effective, safe, and versatile antibacterial agent that produces minimal side effects and is useful in all phases of burn wound management.

Susceptibility testing of topical antibacterials against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates that were collected from 44 consecutive patients during 1 year in a community hospital were tested for susceptibility to five commonly used topical antibacterial agents. Agar-well susceptibility testing, which was based on zones of inhibition, was used to compare the effectiveness of the antibacterials against MRSA. Nitrofurazone was effective in inhibition of bacterial growth and was relatively inexpensive. Mupirocin was found to be effective but more costly for treatment of MRSA. Varying degrees of susceptibility to silver sulfadiazine, mafenide acetate, and bacitracin were noted in the cultures that were obtained at this medical center. On the basis of our findings from susceptibility tests compared with those of another center, we recommend that all hospitals undertake topical sensitivity testing of their MRSA isolates. Appropriate and effective topical antibacterial therapy can then be planned within each center.

Photographing the patient with burns for medical documentation

Photographs of a burn injury provide an objective description of the patients disease course and may be important in the medicolegal documentation of child abuse or other criminal and civil actions. Accurate and reproducible photographs require careful composition and choice of equipment. Standardized clinical positioning is described with recommendations for timing of serial photographs.

Epinephrine Spray-bottle Technique for Harvesting Skin Grafts

Topical epinephrine/saline solution in a concentration of 1:100,000 in a spray bottle can be used to prepare skin graft donor sites for harvesting of split-thickness skin. Additional wetting of the dermal bed during harvesting achieves minimal blood loss. The spray application of epinephrine/saline solution is superior to the use of epinephrine/saline compresses placed after harvesting. Skin prewetting and continuous misting during harvesting avoid the establishment of vigorous bleeding in the dermal bed from which the skin is taken and thus lessen total blood loss.

Overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis in a patient with burns: a case report and a rational approach to treatment.

Overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis is a dreaded sequel of splenectomy. The rate of overwhelming sepsis in children after splenectomy for trauma is reported to be 10 to 30 times that of the general population. Episodes of pneumonia, septicemia, and meningitis in adults after a splenectomy are 166 times more common than in the general population. The care of a patient with burns and asplenia presents many unique management challenges to the burn physician. Awareness of the development of overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis and its most common infecting organisms is crucial. The specific immunologic deficiencies of reduced immunoglobulin production and cell-mediated immunity that exist in patients after a splenectomy may be compounded by burn injury. Specific treatment recommendations for patients with burns and asplenia are lacking. We report a fatal case of overwhelming sepsis in a patient with asplenia and with an 8% total body surface area partial-thickness burn, and we review the pathogenesis of overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis. We focus on treatment recommendations regarding the use of prophylactic antimicrobials, intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy, and pneumococcal polyvalent vaccine to standardize the care of the patient with burns and asplenia and reduce infectious morbidity and deaths.