Intravenous Pluronic F-127 in early burn wound treatment in rats

P. W. Paustian, J. C. McPherson, R. R. Haase, R. R. Runner, Kent Plowman, D. F. Ward, T. H. Nguyen, J. C. McPherson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

A dramatic improvement in full skin thickness burn wounds in rats treated intravenously with the non-ionic surfactant Pluronic F-127 (F-127) has been demonstrated. In this study the F-127 was given 30 min postburn to simulate conditions encountered in a clinical setting. Anaesthetized male rats (300-320g) received full skin thickness burns by immersion of the anterior chest wall (8 per cent body surface area in a 70°C water-bath for 12 s). Burn wound area was measured immediately and after 48 h. Thirty minutes after the burn, half the animals received equal volumes (8 ml/kg body wt) of either saline or F-127 (12 mm/l concentration) via the tail vein. The animals autopsied at 48 h showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the degree of wound contraction and the wound appeared grossly less damaged in the F-127-treated animals. Histologically, skin biopsies showed less of the microscopic damage usually associated with full skin thickness burns in the F-127-treated animals than in the saline controls. We also used thermography to measure skin temperature of the burn area at 90 min and 48 h postinjury demonstrating alterations in the F-127-treated animals (P < 0.05). In animals followed for 30 days postinjury, there was a significant (P < 0.01) improvement in the wound closure rates in the F-127-treated animals. These observations show a positive therapeutic effect of F-127 on the inflammatory process in the area of a burn that may improve wound healing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)187-191
Number of pages5
JournalBurns
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1993

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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