[Local antiseptics in surgery--rebirth and advances]

The history of antisepsis is marked by names such as Pringle, Lister, Billroth, Koch, Kocher, von Volkmann, von Nussbaum, Schloffer and Carrel. The revolutionary initial success of Lister's method was followed by severe setbacks because persisting biological intolerance of the chemical and physical antiseptics prevented the main purpose of application: killing bacteria without damaging cells. Until the discovery of penicillin the predominantly used antiseptics were perubalsam (balsamum peruvianum), azo-dyes (Rivanol), and sulphonamides (Cibazol). The dawn of the "antibiotic age" demonstrated once more the limits of locally applied therapeutic effectiveness of these substances (antiseptics, antibiotics) and was often outweighed by the damage caused. For the same reason systemicly applied substances frequently lack satisfactory effectiveness in the area of tissue damage. Experiences with intraoperative and postoperative wound lavage have shown that favourable results achieved by this surgical procedure are more likely due to the mechanical cleaning process than to the effectiveness of the locally applied substances being limited by the restricted duration of influence and the restricted depth of tissue penetration. Taking into account earlier studies and long-term experiences, antiseptic solutions were tested in view of their tissue compatibility, their biologic availability, and their effectiveness in close cooperation of clinic, bacteriology and laboratory medicine. The coordinated investigations resulted in a solution of biguanid (Lavasept) which is free from iodine, quicksilver, PVP and aldehyde. It can be applied for local treatment of wounds liable to infection, as an adjuvant for wound treatment in cases of acute tissue infections, as well as in the surgival practise to take care of acute and chronic infections of soft tissue. Sofar locally applied antiseptics in surgery have proved to be less satisfactory than considered in the course of their history due to side effects, e.g. tissue damage. Coordinated investigations now present an antiseptic solution of biguanid which can be used in various cases of wound treatment to prevent or counteract infections.