[Efficacy of treatment with Repithel and Jelonet in comparison to treatment with Jelonet alone - a randomized clinical trial in patients receiving meshed skin grafts].
Moist wound treatment is a well recognized method for the treatment of aseptic acute and chronic wounds. While the moist environment is beneficial to the woundhealing process, it also increases the risk of bacterial superinfection. We here report on the results of a clinical phase-III-study in which we tested the effect of a new PVP-iodine liposomal hydrogel (Repithel) on split-thickness skin grafts. This formulation optimizes moist wound treatment by improving the cell proliferation rate while preventing wound infection.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this phase-III-study was to analyse the efficacy and tolerance of Repithel in patients receiving meshed skin grafts.


METHODS
167 patients with transplantation wounds were either treated with lipid gauze alone (control group) or with lipid gauze and Repithel. In both groups the extent of neoepithelization, the frequency and severity of graft losses and the time until complete wound closure was achieved were determined. Analysis of the re-epithelization was achieved by photoplanimetry. Impedance measurements gave additional information on the regeneration of the epidermal barrier.


RESULTS
Wounds receiving Repithel showed a significantly faster neoepithelisation than wounds which were treated with lipid gauze alone. Treatment with Repithel significantly reduced both the number of graft losses and the size of area lost. The time until wounds were closed completely was significantly shorter in patients receiving Repithel than in controls. The positive effects of Repithel on wound healing were especially observed in smokers, patients with chronic wounds, burns or infected wounds.


CONCLUSIONS
Repithel supports healing of meshgraft transplants and reduces the risk of graft loss. Patients who heal poorly benefit particularly from the Repithel treatment.
Hauser
J
J
Universitätsklinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Schwerbrandverletzte, BG-Kliniken Bergmannshell, Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Joerg.Hauser@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Rossbach
O
O
Vogt
P M
PM
Reimer
K
K
Bosse
B
B
Fleischer
W
W
Steinau
H U
HU
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001458:Bandages; D003102:Colloids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003358:Cosmetics; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010577:Petrolatum; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003102:Colloids; D003358:Cosmetics; C103734:jelonet; D010577:Petrolatum; D011206:Povidone-Iodine