IS PROLONGED AND EXCESSIVE COOLING OF A SCALDED WOUND EFFECTIVE

An experimental study was carried out using rats to evaluate the effec tiveness of prolonged and excessive cooling on the burned wound just i mmediately after injury. The wound was produced by applying a lint imm ersed in boiled water at 99 degrees C. The wound produced by applying a lint for 3 s, and then immediately soaking with tap water for 1 min, resulted in little damage. However, the wound produced by applying a lint for 10 s, and immediately after an ice cube applied for 10 min, r esulted in the most severe damage. The wound produced by applying a li nt for 10 s, and no treatment applied thereafter, and the wound produc ed by applying a lint for 10 s and immediately after soaked with tap w ater for 1 min, resulted in moderate damage. From this experiment. it is suggested excessive and prolonged cooling of the burn wound, such a s using an ice cube immediately after injury, is harmful in some insta nces. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI.