[Experimental studies on the effect of various cleaning fluids in phosphorus burns]

Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of uninjured normal rats. Animals in groups 2 and 3 were inflicted with 20-30% third degree phosphorus burn. Group 2 served as control without cleansing, and group 3 animals were washed with various fluids postburn. There were five subgroups in group 3: Subgroup I, the wound was washed with water (fluid I); Subgroup II. 1% detergent solution was used (fluid II); Subgroup III, 5% NaHCO3 was applied after being washed with 2% CuSO4 (fluid III); Subgroup IV, 2% CuSO4 was used only (fluid IV); Subgroup V, water was used after the application of 2% CuSO4. The results showed: 1. The tissue phosphorus and serum BuN values were decreased markedly immediately and 6 h postburn when fluid II was used. It was demonstrated that the detergent was more effective than fluids I and III. Therefore we proposed that a detergent should be used to wash off phosphorus from the wound. 2. The serum copper value increased immediately after the application of 2% CuSO4. However, the serum copper value decreased significantly after the use of NaHCO3. The results suggest that copper poisoning can possibly occur when CuSO4 is used alone, and NaHCO3 solution is effective to wash off CuSO4.