The Veterinary Record 159:712-717 (2006)
© 2006 British Veterinary Association
In vitro study of the effectiveness of different dressings for debriding fibrin in blood clots from horses
R. Pain, BSc1,
J. C. Sneddon, BSc, MSc, PhD2 and
C. A. Cochrane, BSc, PhD, CBiol, MiscT3
1 The Cottage, 75A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8PD
2 School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University,
Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF
3 Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, Faculty of
Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, South Wirral CH64
7TE
Franz diffusion cells containing uniformly dehydrated equine blood clots to
simulate fibrinous eschar were used to measure the rate of debridement of
fibrin by novel and traditional wound dressings, under standardised conditions
of temperature, pH and humidity. Significant increases in protein breakdown
occurred within 24 hours with all the dressings, but not thereafter. In
general, dressings hydrated in normal saline were better as debriding agents
than dressings hydrated in water. Autolytic debriding agents were 47 per cent
more effective than chemical debriding agents; specifically, hydrofibre and
gauze dressings hydrated in saline broke down more than 3500 µg/ml of
protein whereas dressings impregnated with proteolytic enzymatic agents
digested less than 1400 µg/ml.
Copyright © 2006 British Veterinary Association
