Clinical Observation Of The Effect Of Heparin On The Superficial Second-Degree Burn

Objective: Bums are difficult to treat, wounds with complex local and systemic pathology and high mortality, that often heal slowly with scars and contractures. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been used in parenteral and topical application studies. These studies have uncovered anticoagulative, antiinflammatory and neoangiogenic properties, which may stimulate tissue repair and reepithelializing effects. The endogenous GAGs utilized in treating burns are heparin, dermatan sulfate, heparin sulfate, keratin sulfate, chondroitin-4- and chondroitin-6-sulfate, and hyaluronic acid. Heparin, the most sulfated and acidic GAG, has been used to investigate the effects of heparin on the superficial second-degree burn wounds.Methods: Eighty patients with 3-50% TBSA superficial second-degree burn wounds were devided into two groups, the heparin-treatment group and the control group.Heparin was used in 40 cases of patients, the other 40 cases in the control group were treated with routine methods. Patients were as same as each other on age and normal situations. Heparin was used on the wound or injected into blisters in the heparin-treatment group ,but not used in the control group. The patient's pain level was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after the treatment. Wound aspect ,platelet number,and wound healing time were observed .Heparin therapy is commonly monitored by the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) .To see if there were bleeding.All data were analyzed with statistics.Results: The wound healing time was much shorter in the treatment group than that in the control group : 8.4±2.0 days vs. 13.8±1.0 days; P<0.05; In the treatment group, the burn wounds were clean and the reaction of inflammation was slight. Heparin could promote healing of the burn wounds, indicating significant difference in two groups . The difference in PT and APTT between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05).Conclusion: Heparin relieved pain, inhibited clotting and inflammation, restored blood flow, and enhanced healing, The healed skin was smooth, Collagen restoration was enhanced. Heparin reduced needs for pain medicine, topical antibiotics, resuscitation fluids, blood, water baths, debridement, surgery and grafts. Cost of treatments were reduced. Although not as yet fully substantiated, topical heparin therapy of burns may be a useful addition to the range of available treatments for burn wounds.