Biomedical subjects
A M Vartak
Publications and source records attributed to A M Vartak.
Cellophane--a dressing for split-thickness skin graft donor sites.
Cellophane paper has been used as a dressing for split-thickness skin graft donor sites in 251 patients between October 1985 and December 1989. Twelve donor sites in 10 patients were observed in detail to assess the usefulness of this material. The results of the study are presented and the merits and disadvantages of this dressing material have been discussed. In the opinion of the authors the cellophane paper dressing was found to be most satisfactory. It is also cheaper than the newly available dressing materials for the skin donor area.
Histological and bacteriological studies of burn wounds treated with boiled potato peel dressings.
Histological and clinical studies have been made on comparable burn wounds covered with either boiled potato peels affixed to gauze bandages or gauze dressings alone; both dressings were applied over a thin layer of 5 per cent silver sulphadiazine. Compared with treatment with plain gauze dressings, the application of the potato peel dressing reduced or eliminated dessication, permitted the survival of superficial skin cells and hastened epithelial regeneration. Bacteriological studies showed that the potato peels had no intrinsic antibacterial activity, the wounds beneath both dressings showing either no growth or, on most occasions, the same bacterial species. The easy availability of potato peels and gauze bandages on to which they can be affixed, the simplicity of the preparation of this dressing, the ease of sterilization and its low cost of production make this the dressing of choice for burn wounds in our developing country.