Chemical burns: Diphoterine untangled

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Toxicology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Diphoterine is a decontamination solution for chemical burns.
• Its efficacy and safety are debated due to limited studies and infrequent use by emergency physicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on the safety and effectiveness of Diphoterine for chemical burn treatment.

Main Methods:

• A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS, and TOXNET up to June 2016.
• Pre-clinical studies were assessed using SYRCLE risk of bias tool and ARRIVE guidelines.
• Clinical studies were evaluated using Chambers' criteria.

Main Results:

• 13 studies (7 pre-clinical, 5 clinical) were included.
• Diphoterine demonstrated faster pH resolution, reduced tissue necrosis, and decreased pain in pre-clinical and clinical settings.
• No adverse events were linked to Diphoterine, though study quality was often poor.

Conclusions:

• Diphoterine appears safe and potentially superior to other rinsing solutions for chemical burns.
• Immediate decontamination is crucial; use alternatives if Diphoterine is unavailable.
• Future research requires improved methodology and reporting standards.