Beneficial effects of ethanol on experimental burns.
Alcohol has been demonstrated to produce cutaneous vasodilation. The burn wound is characterized by a compromised microcirculation which is amenable to pharmacologic manipulation to improve the final outcome of the injury. Various agents including heparin, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents have been employed to maintain a patent microcirculatory bed. Ethanol has been used in the present study in a murine burn model as a vasodilator administered immediately preburn and post-burn. Preburn administration of ethanol significantly improved the mean burn severity at 48 hr compared to ethanol given post-burn. Ethanol, acting as a vasodilator, improves dermal circulation post-burn and reduces the overall extent of injury.
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000431:Ethanol