Effects of early escharectomy on rats with combined radiation-burn injury

Objective: To provide evidence for beneficial effect of clinical therapy with early escharectomy on survival and wound healing in rats combined radiation-burn injury. Methods: Rats were exposed to 5 Gy whole-body γ-ray irradiation from a 60Co source and to thermal-radiation burn (10% TBSA, full thickness burn) successively by a 5 kW bromo-tungsten lamp. Then the animals were given anti-shock and anti-infection remedies. Early escharectomy and stitch (EES) at 24 h after injury, eschar-protecting treatment, or other treatment modalities were carried out. The 60-day survival rate, the duration of wound healing and the changes of the body weight of animals were observed. Results: The 60-day survival rate of EES group reached 78%, being higher than that of the no-escharectomy group (40%, P < 0.05) and even higher than that of the escharectomy with non-stitch group (15%, P < 0.01) and that of the control group (10%, P < 0.01). Besides, in the EES group, the wound showed no sign of infection and healed well, and the body weights recovered faster. Conclusions: EES is effective and available on this model of combined injuries. It is appropriate for operation at 24-48 h after injury