Surgical treatment of skin lesions induced by sulfur mustard ("mustard gas")--an experimental study in the guinea pig.
Sulfur mustard has been known as a chemical warfare agent since 1915 and its biological effects, e.g. acting as an alkylating agent reacting with nucleophiles in proteins and nucleic acids, are well known. Still, there is today no specific antidote against or treatment of sulfur mustard induced cutaneous lesions. Recently, a technique of treating thermal burns with early surgical excision followed by skin grafting has been established. The present study was undertaken to evaluate, if a similar technique could be of value in the treatment of sulfur mustard lesions. Under anaesthesia, guinea pigs were exposed to sulfur mustard vapour, followed six hours later by excision of the exposed skin segment. In animals where the skin defect was primary sutured, healing time was significantly shorter and increase in body mass greater compared to conservatively treated controls. No such differences were found if excision was followed by full thickness skin grafting. Further studies in other species are suggested to clarify the possible role of surgical excision of sulfur mustard skin lesions, followed by skin transplantation, in humans.
Kjellström
B T
BT
Department of Human Studies, National Defence Research Establishment, Stockholm, Sweden.
Persson
J K
JK
Runn
P
P
D000818:Animals; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D009151:Mustard Gas; D010784:Photomicrography; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D009151:Mustard Gas