title: The comparative study of solvents to expedite removal of bitumen.
abstract: Hot-bitumen burn is a unique case in all types of burns. This melting substance is difficult to remove when it adheres to the skin and solidifies. It causes burns and sticks to the skin when it is cooled to the skin temperature. Some reports are available on many kinds of solvents for the removal of solid bitumen. However, there have thus far been no comparative studies. It is necessary to seek for an optimum method to remove bitumen without consuming so much time and with minimum injury to the skin. The selected solvents in this study were petrolatum, olive oil, salad oil, butter, Neosporin ointment and De-solv-it. They were often reported as being effective for hot-bitumen burn injuries with little irritation for a damaged skin. It is easy to purchase them commercially. Each solvent was poured over the bitumen in a test tube. Afterwards, the concentrations of the bitumen in the solvents were quantified with the fluorescence measurement technique. We consider De-solv-it is the one of the best solvent for the removal of bitumen and highly recommended for hot-bitumen burns. The results of this study suggest that dressing change should be done every 4 to 8 h or as frequently as needed until the bitumen is entirely removed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Saku Central Hospital, Nagano, Japan. m-iuchi@ba3.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iuchi
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oyatsu
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukai
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001458:Bandages; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000628:therapy*; D002079:Butter; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007809:Lanolin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009355:Neomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010577:Petrolatum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012997:Solvents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D012997:Solvents; D001414:Bacitracin; D007809:Lanolin; D010577:Petrolatum; D002079:Butter; C006647:asphalt; C001816:bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, drug combination; D009355:Neomycin; D011112:Polymyxin B