Inflammatory Reaction and Collagen Accumulation in an Experimental Model of Open Wounds in the Rat: A Comparison between Gauze and Debrisan® Treatment

Abstract

Debrisan® treatment was compared with the use of gauze in an experimental model of open wounds in the rat. The amounts of exudate absorbed by the gauze and by Debrisan were measured daily during the post-wounding period and the myeoloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the exudate was determined. Blood flow, water content and accumulation of the collagen amino acid hydroxyproline in the granulation tissue were measured on days 3, 5, 7 and 10 post-wounding. The amount of exudate absorbed both by gauze and by Debrisan reached a peak on post-wounding days 4–5 and was greater in Debrisan-treated wounds. MPO activity in the Debrisan-absorbed exudate, on the other hand, was lower throughout the study period than in the exudate absorbed by gauze. Granulation tissue blood flow and water content reached maximum values on day 7 post-wounding, irrespective of treatment. Blood flows were 39% and 40% lower in the Debrisan-treated wounds on post-wound days 3 and 7, respectively, than in the gause-treated wounds, whereas the water contents of the former wounds were 23% and 15% lower on days 3 and 10, respectively. The hydroxyproline content of the granulation tissue increased continuously from day 3 to day 10 and was similar in the two wounds. These results suggest that Debrisan is more effective than gauze for absorbing wound exudate, when applied on an openly secreting wound. In addition, the inflammatory reaction taking place in Debrisan-treated wounds seems to be less severe than in wounds treated with gauze.