Direct current reduces accumulation of Evans Blue albumin in full-thickness burns.
BACKGROUND
Application of direct current (DC) to a burn wound limits extension of the zone-of-stasis and reduces wound tissue edema.


OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of DC on extravasation of plasma proteins after burn by using Evans blue (EB) as a marker of plasma albumin.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats with 20% total body surface area full-thickness scalds (100 degrees C/10 sec) were used as the experimental model. Burn wounds were treated with plain nylon, silver-nylon, silver-nylon and 40 microA DC, or no dressing. EB (30 mg/kg) was injected immediately or at variably delayed postburn (PB) times and accompanied by DC application at various time intervals PB. Tissue content of Evans blue was assessed at different times after injection of the dye or infliction of burn injury.


RESULTS
Evans blue albumin (EBA) concentration in untreated burn wounds (307.7 microg/g tissue) was nine times greater than in unburned skin (36.5 microg/g tissue) at 48 hours PB. When animals received a DC and EB injection immediately PB, DC treatment reduced EBA concentration by 60% at any time point PB. When EB was injected immediately PB, or at variably delayed times PB, accompanied by DC immediately PB, or at variably delayed times PB, DC reduced EBA accumulation at all examined times PB by more the 50% (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
EBA and edema fluid accumulation in burn wound change in concert after injury and show similar response to DC treatment.
Chu
C S
CS
U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6315, USA.
Matylevich
N P
NP
McManus
A T
AT
Pruitt
B A
BA
Goodwin
C W
CW
D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004560:Electricity; D005070:Evans Blue / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*
D012709:Serum Albumin; D005070:Evans Blue