• M Cavallini and A Casati.
• Galeazzi Hospital, Unit of Plastic Surgery, Milan, Italy.
• Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2004 May 1;21(5):389-92.

Background And ObjectiveA randomized, blind study to evaluate the effects on beta-endorphin and substance P release after washing acid burns with 0.9% saline, calcium gluconate or diphoterine in a model of chemical burn in rats.MethodsTwenty Sprague-Dawley rats (approximate weight 250 g) were anaesthetized with ketamine (30 mg kg(-1) intramuscularly) and then given an acid injury on the back skin with 0.5 mL of hydrochloric acid 52%. The rats were then randomly allocated to receive no washing (control group, n = 5), washing with normal saline (0.9% NaCl) (n = 5), 10% calcium gluconate (n = 5) or diphoterine (n = 5). Blood concentrations of substance P and beta-endorphin were measured 6 h, 48 h and 7 days after the chemical burn. An independent blinded observer evaluated wound healing at the 7th day.ResultsSeven days after burn wound healing was almost complete only in rats treated with diphoterine. Plasma concentrations of substance P were lower in rats receiving skin flushing with diphoterine compared to the other groups at 6 and 48 h after acid burn (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively); this was also associated with higher concentrations of beta-endorphin at day 7 (P < 0.05).ConclusionsSkin flushing with diphoterine reduced substance P release during the first 48 h after burn, and was associated with better wound healing and higher concentrations of beta-endorphin 7 days later when compared with normal saline or 10% calcium gluconate.

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