Annals of surgery
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Comparative Study
Reversal of capillary stasis and prevention of necrosis in burns.
It has been suggested that the ultimate depth of burn necrosis might be minimized by prevention or reversal of the progressive capillary stasis which occurs in the early postburn hours. To study the role of wound dehydration in determining burn depth, 5% body surface area, 75 C, 10 second burns (in which the zone of stasis included the full thickness of skin) were inflicted on the backs of guinea pigs and subsequent mechanical trauma was prevented. At various times postburn, water content, (and after India ink perfusion) depth of capillary stasis and histological structure of burn were studied in the following groups: 1) blister intact; 2) blister removed; and 3) blister replaced by several different types of dressing. ⋯ Other dressings were associated with deep necrosis or gross infection. These and other data suggest that in the zone of stasis, capillary stasis may be reversed and necrosis avoided by appropriate prevention of wound dehydration. Clinical correlations are suggested.
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A case of a patient with burn scar carcinoma of an extremity associated with hypercalcemia and without bone metastasis is presented. From the data presented, it seems reasonable to assume that this squamous cell carcinoma of a burn scar secreted some type of parathyroid hormone-like substance or substances which posessed calcium-increasing biological activity resulting in hypercalcemia.