Xenogeneic (porcine) versus allogeneic biologic dressings after escharectomy for deep burns: a comparative study

To compare xenogeneic (porcine) versus allogeneic biological dressings after escharectomy for deep burns.

This retrospective study included patients treated with escharectomy for second- or third-degree burns at First People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, China, between January 2015 and October 2020. The patients were grouped according to the type of wound dressing used after escharectomy: acellular dermal porcine skin matrices (the xenogeneic group) and allogeneic acellular dermal matrices (the allogeneic group).

A total of 95 patient records were analysed: 62 (45 males and 17 females) received xenogeneic dressings, and 33 (25 males and eight females) received allogeneic dressings. There were no differences between the allogeneic and xenogeneic dressings in: the survival rate of the initial skin graft (94.3% versus 93.3%, respectively; p=0.765); bio-occupation (where the biological dressing adheres and fuses with the tissue) (15.2% versus 14.5%, respectively; p=0.100); dressing dissolution (30.3% versus 37.1%, respectively; p=0.473); and infection or mildew (24.2% versus 22.6%, respectively; p=0.793). However, the xenogeneic dressings showed a longer wound healing time than the allogeneic dressings (11.4±0.4 versus 8.9±0.3 days, respectively; p<0.001).

Compared to allogeneic dressings, xenogeneic dressings demonstrated no significant differences, except for a longer healing time. Nevertheless, xenogeneic dressings have the potential to be a viable alternative due to their availability.