OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the decontaminants frequently used for phenol burn wounds.

METHODSThe central part of the dorsal skin of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were burned with 90% (W/V)phenol solution for 2 min, and water, 75% ethanol, polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400), and Diphoterine were applied for decontamination for 15 min. The changes in wounds were observed, and the depth of skin burns at 24 hours after treatment and changes in six indicators of organ injuries, i.e., serum levels of total bilirubin (TBil), creatinine (Crea), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alanine aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), at 6 hours after treatment were compared.

RESULTSAfter phenol burns, the Diphoterine group had a significantly better effect and significantly lower degrees of skin and organ injuries compared with the water group (P<0.05). The effect of decontamination and degrees of skin and organ injuries were similar between the 75% ethanol group and the PEG400 group, and both groups had a better effect of decontamination compared with the water group; the 75% ethanol group had significantly lower serum levels of CK and LDH than the water group (P<0.05). Among these four groups, the water group had the worst effect, the deepest wounds, and the most severe organ injuries.

CONCLUSIONAfter phenol burns, early decontamination with water has a poor effect, while Diphoterine can reduce the depth of phenol burns and the degrees of injuries of vital organs, and has a good effect of decontamination.