Limb cooling with targeted arterial infusion of cold fluid alleviates scald injury: an experimental rabbit study

To investigate the cooling and healing effect of different modalities: Hydrogel dressing(®) was compared with targeted artery injection of low temperature liquid as a coolant following application to a fresh deep partial thickness hot water scald in a rabbit hind limb model.

Fifty five rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups. Treatment group received femoral artery injection of low temperature liquid and hydrogel dressing post burn 30 min or 1 hour. Control group were just scalded. Subcutaneous (Tu) and deep mussel temperatures (Tm) were continually monitored in all wounds. After scald the rectal temperature were detected within 6 hours. The wounds were biopsied for histological assessment at 72 h and 3 weeks.

Effective cooling of the burn wound and an increased rate of wound healing was achieved by both treatment methods. The final temperature at 1h decreased to the preburn temperature. Compared with hydrogel dressing group (Tm decreased by 1.3 ± 0.4°C), Tm decreased by 2.8 ± 0.3°C in femoral artery injection group, showing significant difference (P < 0.05). Artery injection of low temperature liquid and hydrogel dressing almost exert no influence on rabbit core temperature. Clinical and histological assessment at 21 days indicated more rapid healing in both the 30 min hydrogel dressing and artery injection burns compared with the controls and the 60 minutes intervention groups.

This result indicates artery injection of low temperature liquid earlier to cooling limb is an effective means to reduce residual heat damage tissue without affect core temperature and increase wound healing.