[Surgical treatment of chemical injuries]

Among nearly 2000 patients of a traumatological ward 82 patients were treated with chemical injury during 6 years. On the basis of their experiences the tissue damaging effect of the chemical substances as well as the methods of treatment are discussed by the authors. Dermoplastic operations have been performed in 28 injured patients. Two patients died--the immediate cause of death was in both patients pneumonia developed as complication of important skin defect. As first-aid abundant sponge-bath and flushing are recommended by the authors--the neutralizing drugs play a secondary role. In the case of deep injuries primary necrectomy is recommended, firstly in colliquation necrosis, as well as in the cases, in which the absorption of the poisonous substance is to be feared of.