Effects of two occlusive, hydrocolloid dressings on healing of full-thickness skin wounds in cats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of two occlusive, hydrocolloid dressings on second intention wound healing in cats.


METHODS
Three 2×2 cm full-thickness skin wounds were created on each side of the trunk of 10 cats. Two bilateral wounds were bandaged using different hydrocolloid dressings, namely Hydrocoll and DuoDerm while a semi-occlusive pad (Melolin) was applied to the third bilateral wound (control group). Wound planimetry, subjective evaluation of wound healing, and qualitative bacterial cultures were performed on the right-sided wounds, whereas left-sided wounds were subjected to histological examination.


RESULTS
Subjective evaluation revealed accelerated (p <0.01) granulation tissue formation in hydrocolloid-treated wounds. The amount of wound exudate was initially greater (p <0.01) in these wounds. Seventeen out of 120 evaluated wounds (14.2%) produced purulent exudate, 11 of which showed Staphylococcus aureus growth. Fewer control wounds (3/17) emitted purulent exudate, but all of them yielded moderate bacterial growth as compared to hydrocolloid-treated wounds (8/17) which had a low incidence of bacterial growth. The only significant difference in histological variables was increased cellular infiltration noted on day 7 in Hydrocoll-treated wounds compared to controls. No significant differences in planimetry variables were found between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the initially increased amount of wound exudate and the low growth of Staphylococcus aureus, hydrocolloid dressings accelerate granulation tissue formation and can hence be suggested for second intention wound healing in cats.
Vassiliki Tsioli, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 224 Tricalon Street, GR-43100 Karditsa, Greece, Phone: + 30 244 106 6067, Fax: + 30 244 106 6041, E-mail: vtsioli@vet.uth.gr.
Vassiliki
V
Tsioli
Pagona G
PG
Gouletsou
Apostolos D
AD
Galatos
Dimitra
D
Psalla
Antonis
A
Lymperis
Lyssimachos G
LG
Papazoglou
Maria
M
Karayannopoulou
D000818:Animals; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings / Q000662:veterinary*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014945:Wound Healing
Cat; feline; hydrocolloid dressing; occlusive dressing; second intention wound healing