Continuous intra-arterial infusion therapy in hydrofluoric acid burns

To determine the effect of continuous intra-arterial calcium gluconate infusion therapy on patients suffering from hydrofluoric acid dermal burns of the digits, clinical treatment was performed prospectively on 10 patients from January 1997 to December 1998 at the burn care unit of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. An arterial catheter was inserted transcutaneously through the radial artery of the involved hand. After confirmation of the proper position of the catheter, calcium gluconate was infused continuously with an ambulatory infusion pump. Rapid pain relief was achieved immediately after infusion. The rate of infusion was then tapered down gradually, and treatment was completed with no major therapeutic complication. All injured digits of these 10 patients were successfully salvaged with good cosmetic appearance and complete functional preservation. Compared with other conventional therapies, continuous intra-arterial calcium gluconate infusion therapy proved to be a safe, rapid, simple, portable, and effective method for treating hydrofluoric acid dermal burns.