EVALUATION OF ARTIFICIAL SKIN (INTEGRA) IN A RODENT MODEL

The biocompatibility of artificial skin (Integra) has been investigate d in clean surgical wounds of 20 guinea-pigs. A rectangular 3 x 3 cm f ull-thickness skin deject with excision carried down to the panniculus carnosus was prepared on the dorsal area of the guinea-pig. A thin la yer of saver sulfadiazine cream was applied and artificial skin was pl aced to cover the wound. At clay 14, the uppermost silicone layer was removed. Good take of the artificial skin was observed in 18 of 20 ani mals. Microscopy showed good vascular ingrowth in 14 of the 18 animals . The remaining four animals showed necrotic tissue, absence of vascul arization and haemorrhage in the wound bed. Two of the 20 wounds showe d purulent discharge. In this animal model, clinical 'take' of the neo dermis was achieved in 18/20 animals (90 per cent), while vascular ing rowth was observed in only 14/20 animals (70 per cent). These results suggested that artificial skin in clean surgical wound is readily biol ogically incorporated into surrounding viable tissue. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science Ltd for ISBI.