A new principle for the cleansing of infected wounds.
When dry porous hydrophilic beads, formed by a three dimensional network of dextran polymers, are placed on a discharging wound, they absorb the exudate and swell to form of a gelatinous layer. Within this gelatinous layer a separation of substances occurs according to their molecular weights, with the smaller (MW less than 1000) freely penetrating the pores of the beads and the larger (MW greater than 5 000) remaining in the interspaces. Since proteins are removed from the wound surface with the fluid, crustformation on the wound is prevented. Clotting within the gel layer does not occur, since, as shown in another study (Aberg, Hedner, Jacobsson & Rothman 1976), wound exudate contains a high amount of fibrin-fibrinogen split products and no coagulable fibrinogen. Therefore as long as dry beads are available, exudate can be sucked up. With the wound exudate bacteria, degradation products and toxins are removed from the wound surface. A substance with the above described properties Debrisan (Pharmacia AB, Sweden) was used to treat various types of wounds. The treatment was most effective for profusely discharging infected wounds. Within a few days inflammation subsided, exudate decreased and granulation tissue appeared. So far no side effects are observed and even patients, who during years of treatment of leg ulcers had become sensitized to most dressings and local antibiotics could be treated. The new technique for sampling of wound fluid also offers a model for studies on inflammatory mediators and protein loss.