Acticoat dressings and major burns: systemic silver absorption.

Despite widespread use of wound dressings containing silver, few studies have investigated patients' serum silver levels. An earlier study of Acticoat use in small burns showed transient elevations of serum silver. The aim of this study was to examine the serum silver profile when Acticoat is used in major burns. A prospective study of 6 patients with burns greater than 20% total body surface area (TBSA). All burn wounds, including grafted and non-grafted areas and skin graft donor sites, were dressed with Acticoat or Acticoat Absorbent. Patients' serum silver levels, biochemistry and haematology were examined before, during and after the application of the silver dressings. The median total wound size (including donor sites) was 46.1% TBSA. The median maximum serum silver level recorded, 200.3 µg/L, reached at a median of 9.5 days following initial silver dressing application. This decreased to a median of 164.8 µg/L at the end of the treatment period and to a median of 8.2 µg/L at the end of follow-up. One adverse event, partial skin graft loss was thought to be dressing related. In this small study, serum silver levels were elevated but remained similar to that reported following the use of silver sulfadiazine. This study confirmed our view that Acticoat is safe to use on patients with burns, even when they are extensive.

Long-term clinical and histological analysis of Integra dermal regeneration template.

BACKGROUND: This study looked at clinical and histological outcomes of patients treated with Integra more than 2 years earlier. Although previous studies have investigated the short-term clinical and histological results, there have been no studies to investigate longer-term changes. METHODS: Fourteen patients (23 sites) were assessed. Patients used a visual analogue scale to score characteristics of their scars. Objective evaluation of the reconstructions was carried out using the Cutometer MPA580. Punch biopsy specimens of the sites were stained and labeled immunohistochemically with S100, CD31, and CD34 antisera. RESULTS: The highest scoring category by patients was softness (median, +45 percent). The lowest score was sweating, which all patients scored 0. The median Cutometer readings ranged from 39 to 52 percent of the control values. Histological examination showed three patterns of collagen arrangement; parallel arrangement was found in over 60 percent of specimens. Elastic fibers were identified in all specimens; however, all were of abnormal morphology. The majority of specimens showed evidence of nerve fiber regeneration although confined to the mid- or lower reticular dermis. There was no regeneration of skin adnexa. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant improvements in patient-assessed mobility, softness, and appearance. Collagen and elastic fibrin were present in all specimens, nerve fiber regeneration was limited to the mid- or lower reticular dermis, and adnexal structures were absent. The typical wrinkled appearance of mature Integra reconstruction cannot be said to be entirely due to a lack of elastic fibers.

The safety of nanocrystalline silver dressings on burns: a study of systemic silver absorption.

INTRODUCTION: Wound dressings containing silver have been in widespread use for many years. However, there are few quantitative data on the systemic absorption of silver or whether there is associated clinical risk. OBJECTIVES: To assess systemic silver levels when Acticoat dressings containing nanocrystalline silver were used, and to determine whether increases in such levels were associated with haematological or biochemical indicators of toxicity. METHOD: A prospective, single-centre, open-label study of 30 patients with relatively small burns that required skin grafting. Serum silver levels were measured before, during and at discontinuation of the use of the Acticoat dressings, and again at 3 and 6 months following completion of treatment. RESULTS: The median total postoperative wound size was 12% of the total body surface area. The median time to maximum silver levels was 9 days. The median maximum serum silver level was 56.8 microg/l. The median serum level at 6 months was 0.8 microg/l. There were no haematological or biochemical indicators of toxicity associated with the silver absorption observed in this study. CONCLUSION: This study has confirmed our view that Acticoat products are safe for use on burns and they remain a standard part of treatment at our centre.