title: The effect of wound ointments on tissue microcirculation and leucocyte behaviour.
abstract: An intact microcirculation is essential for normal healing to occur. Wound repair may be impaired by various endogenous and exogenous factors, such as reduced microvascular perfusion, infection and debris. In the nonhealing wound, radical surgical debridement is critical. To supplement healing, various ointments are used in clinical practice. Little is known about their effects on tissue perfusion. We have therefore selected two substances widely used, the antiseptic Betadine and the enzyme combination Elase and investigated their impact on the microcirculation and on leucocyte activity, using the cremaster muscle as a model. We found that functional capillary density and arteriolar diameters were significantly reduced by Betadine, whereas leucocyte activity was not affected. In the Elase group, capillary flow and arteriolar diameters were significantly increased, and again leucocyte activity was not changed. The mechanism by which Betadine reduces microvascular flow is believed to be the same as in reperfusion injury. The positive effect of Elase on the microcirculation might be attributed to plasmin, which has been shown to dilate blood vessels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Burn Center, Hand Center, Bergmannsheil University Hospital, Bochum, Germany. f.peter.berlin@t-online.de
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li-Peuser
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muehlberger
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Homann
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Steinau
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001160:Arterioles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D009824:Ointments; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009824:Ointments; C021490:deoxyribonuclease, plasmin drug combination; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D005341:Fibrinolysin