GB2149659A - Composition for treating burns containing ethyl alcohol and a bicarbonate - Google Patents

Abstract

A mixture of ethyl alcohol and a bicarbonate such as sodium bicarbonate in a ratio of bicarbonate of alcohol of 1:1 to 4:1 is a paste which can be applied topically to burns and other cutaneous lesions.

Description

SPECIFICATION Chemical Compositions for Treating Burns The present invention refers to a chemical compound useful in the treatment of some dermatological diseases.

Generally, the chemical compound of the present invention comprises a mixture of ethyl alcohol, having any degree or concentration, preferably 96%, and bicarbonates, preferably sodium bicarbonate. The compound is active at concentrations from 1:2 to 4:1 between the bicarbonates and the ethyl alcohol.

The experimental casuistry in humans has preferably been carried out with lesions due to heat (burns) where an inflammatory, exudative and necrotic reaction takes place, having a greater or lesser extent and severeness and a higher or lower percentage of these three reactive factors.

Furthermore, taking into account that said reactive factors of the skin are also produced either jointly or independently in other cutaneous lesions whose etiology is not heat, the present compound can also be applied to treat any type of cutaneous lesion, even though the cause thereof is not heat.

Burns are defined as lesions produced in the organic tissues by the action of heat in its different forms, and are classified, according to the severeness thereof, as first degree, second degree and third degree burns. The severeness of the burn, therefore, depends on the degree thereof, but fundamentally also on the extent of the affected body surface.

Physiopathology of the Burn 1. Capillar and plasmorraghia alteration.

Histominic type.

2. Necrosis of the covering epithelium tissue, normally the skin.

The H substances produce the capillar permeability and the vaso-dilatation, whereby the passage of plasma to the tissues is produced, i.e.

plasmorraghia, producing edemas and blisters which, as in the case of vaso-dilatation, produce soreness and erythema.

Half of the plasmorraghia produced in a burn takes place during the first six hours.

On the periphery of the burnt surface there is vasoconstriction, extreme hemoconcentration and hemolysis.

There is an increase of bicarbonates in the burnt area.

Sodium is lost which, when combined with carbon anhydride, is eliminated in the form of bicarbonates.

Proteins are also lost.

The burnt area is acidotic.

Hemolysis is also produced in the burnt area.

Present Day Local Treatments At present there are various treatments for burns which are, in general, the following: Antiseptics and antibiotics 1 or 2% Gentians violet 5 to 20% tannic acid 10% silver nitrate and 520% tannic acid Aldrich cure or curing with the three colourings (1% Gentians violet, 1% bright green and 1 per mil neutral acryflavine).

Ambrein (paraffin and vegetable resins) Zeno's method (occlusive dressing with plaster) Lohr's dressing (cod-liver pomades and gypsym dressings).

Infrared rays Radiotherapy Bunyan's irrigatable bag Saline bath (salt serum) Drying by exposure to air Bandaging under pressure Chemical decrustation with 8% pyruvic or phosphoric acid in a starch paste (acts by H concentration).

5% CINa dressings (the edema is reduced by osmosis).

Painting with mercromine Furacin dressings lodinated povidone dressings.

Object of the Invention The object of the present invention refers to a compound comprising a mixture of ethyl alcohol having any degree or concentration, preferably 96%, and bicarbonates, preferably sodium bicarbonate.

The ethyl alcohol and bicarbonate compound is active at concentrations of from 1:2 to 4:1, between bicarbonates and ethyl alcohol.

Said mixture is a white paste, depending on the ratio of the two ingredients of the mixture which, when applied to the skin, forms a compact layer which, within a period of time not longer than one or two hours, dries becoming brittle and being converted into a powder.

The drying time depends on the ratio of alcohol, on whether the paste is applied and left uncovered, or on whether bandages or dressings are placed thereon. In these latter cases, the drying time is longer.

It smells like ether due to the volatilization of the alcohol, it has an alkaline taste and it is inflammable.

Method of Use The paste is applied to the burnt area, previously cleansed in the usual fashion (with water, soap, etc).

If the burn is classified as a first degree burn (erythema), the paste is applied with a spatula, spreading it uniformly, with a thickness of not less than 1 mm and leaving it to dry uncovered or with dressings for one hour. The powder is then gently removed and the burnt area is left under normal conditions, without exposing same to sun or warm atmospheres.

If the burn is classified as a second degree burn, the burnt area is cleansed in the usual manner without bursting the blisters. If blisters have appeared or if they have already burst, the paste is applied as in the case of a first degree burn and it is gently removed after one hour. Under doctor's orders and if deemed fit, the paste can be re-applied as many times as necessary.

Irrespective of the extent of the body surface burnt, the paste is uniformly applied to the entire burnt area, without risks of any side effects, such as for example, ethyl alkalosis or narcosis.

If the burns are classified as third degree burns, the procedure is essentially the same as in the aforementioned cases, referring to first and second degree burns. Application of the paste on the most concentric area, that is to say on the most affected area, is still under study. However, the peripheral areas of the third degree burns which are normally second and first degree, successively eccentric, are treated as in the aforementioned cases.

Method of Action Unknown.

Results Both in the cases of first and second degree burns, as well as in the case of some third degree burns, the application of the mixture of the present invention has an instantaneous sedative effect, similar to that of morphine and its derivatives, necessarily used in these lesions if the burnt body surface covers a considerable extension.

This effect is also obtained using only alcohol, but the symptoms reappear as soon as the burnt member is removed from the alcohol.

On the erythematose areas which were not treated at all blisters appeared after a few minutes or within the first few hours, and to avoid the appearance thereof the plasmorraghia on the centre of the lesion should be stopped.

If the paste is removed before the previously indicated time interval, plasmorraghia can start again which could cause blisters, depending on the severeness of the lesion and on the ratios of the mixture.

The edema on said areas is almost totally reduced.

It avoids secondary hemolysis which is produced in all burnt areas. This is not the case in the initial hemolysis at the time of the aggression.

It counteracts the acidosis of the area.

It also counteracts the loss of sodium in the area.

It diminishes the fixing of the chloro in the damaged tissues.

It avoids the epithelial surface scaling, preventing the solution of continuity in the burnt area and consequently the risk of infection.

It avoids any type of retractile scar due to the non-existence of concentric re-epithelization.

It is of utmost importance to apply the paste as soon as possible, after the heat aggression, preventing the appearance of blister and posterior bursting thereof. The application of the paste prevents the formation of blisters and breaks the chin of epithelial conditions which lead to a large exudative area without epithelial covering (infections, scars, etc.).

It avoids posterior pigmentation in case of first and second degree burns.

It is surprising to see how little time is required to recover the functionalism of the affected area; in fact almost immediately after removing the paste if the subjective symptoms have disappeared. If not, the paste will then be reapplied. If the integrity of the skin has been preserved, functionality is almost immediate, without pain nor hypersensitivity, after removing the paste.

If blisters have appeared, same will be reabsorbed without loss of the epidermis.

If the blisters have burst and an exudative surface has been formed, the complete healing of the skin is favoured in less than 1/3 of the time necessary, using conventional treatments.

In third degree or more severe burns where there is a complete loss of the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous and even muscular loss, where the surrounding areas are charred, the application of the paste is stiil being studied.

Casuistic Concrete cases which were treated with the mixture of the present invention are specified herebelow: Case No. 1 Patient: A 29 year-old male Aggressive agent: Boiling olive oil Temperature: More than 150 C Aggressive time: Less than 3 seconds and more than 2 seconds.

Lesioned surface: Skin of the forearm and right hand covering an extension of from 5 to 6 cm2.

Time of application after the aggression: 10 minutes.

Application time: 20 minutes.

Disappearance of pain: 3 minutes.

Functional recovery: 45 minutes.

Ratio of the paste: 96% Ethyl alcohol/1/1.5 sodium bicarbonate.

Observations: When the paste was applied, no blisters had appeared, wherefore it was considered as a first degree burn. The wound healed completely within 9 days without epithelial scaling nor pigmentation.

Case No. 2 Patient: A 16 year-old female.

Aggressive agent: Boiling water.

Temperature: More than 100"C.

Time of aggression: Between 3 and 4 seconds.

Lesioned surface: Skin of the thigh of the right leg and the right inguinal area covering an extension of 7to 10cm2.

Time of application after the aggression: 5 to 10 minutes.

Application time: 15 to 20 minutes.

Ratio of the paste: 96% Ethyl alcohol/1/1.5% sodium bicarbonate.

Observations: When the paste was applied, there were no blisters. Pain disappeared 3 to 5 minutes after application, covering the wound with a dressing. The patient was taken to hospital where the wound was attended to by washing with a physiological serum and immediately after the paste was removed a large blister started to form covering an area of 34 cm2 (skin of the right ilium projection), the larges in extension when compared with the other isolated wounds where no blister appeared. An occlusive dressing with furacin was applied to all the wounds.

The largest wound healed within 3-4 weeks by concentric reepithelization and an exudative period.

The paste was not reapplied and the furacin dressings were maintained.

The other smaller-sized wounds which at the time of washing in the hospital did not present blisters and which did not appear during the furacin treatment, healed within 4-6 days without epithelial scaling. Thus, the longest healing time was required for those wounds treated in the usual way in spite of the fact that the paste was prematurely removed.

Case No. 3 Patient: A 30 year old male.

Aggressive agent: A metallic surface on which a soldering point was applied (live white).

Temperature: Above 1,500"C.

Aggressive time: Less than 1 second.

Lesioned surface: Index finger of the left hand, anterior face, third phalange covering an extension of 1/3 ofa cm2.

Time of application after the aggression: 15 minutes.

Application time of the paste: 30 minutes.

Disappearance of painful symptoms: 5 minutes.

Functional recovery: 1 hour.

Ratio of the paste: 96% Ethyl alcohol/1/1 sodium carbonate.

Observations: When the paste was applied a blister had already appeared covering the complete burnt area and which disappeared by reabsorption.

Seven days thereafter there was a slight pigmentation of the area without having lost the epithelium which preserves the finger print. At the time of the lesion, the metal remained stuck two the finger and the smoke given offsmelt of "burnt meat".

Case No. 4 Patient: An 18 year old male.

Aggressive agent: Boiling water and the steam given off by the radiator of the car.

Temperature: Above 100 C.

Aggression time: From 1 to 2 seconds.

Lesioned surface: Skin of the forehead up to the root of the hair. Upper and lower eyelashes, eyebrows, nose, cheeks, upper lip, right half of the lower lip, the skin covering the lower right side of the jaw bone and a part of the skin of the neck on the same side. An area of more than 5% of the body surface.

Time of application after the aggression: 30to 40 minutes.

Application time of the paste: 40 minutes.

Disappearance of painful symptoms: 3-5 minutes.

Functional recovery: 1 hour.

Ratio of the paste: 96% Ethyl alcohol/1/2 sodium bicarbonate.

Observations: When the paste was applied, the diagnosis was of first degree burns on the entire face, second degree burns on the cheeks with burst blisters and a total exudative surface of 1-2cm2.

There was also a surface of 1-2 cm2 covered with unbroken blisters. The eyes suffered from irritating conjunctivitis.

This patient was firstly examined by his family doctor who sent him to a hospital specialized in burns.

The paste was only applied for 40 minutes since the ambulance arrived to pick up the patient.

When the dressings were removed, almost all the erythema had disappeared, as well as the edema on the eyelashes, upper lip and nostrils, which was important.

The incipient blisters had disappeared.

The exudative surfaces were blocked by the adhesion of the paste. Pain had disappeared after 5 minutes and did not reappear after the paste was removed neither did new blisters appear.

Functionality was complete and there were no occular nor mucuous lesions. The patient himself pulled his nose to show that there was no pain at all, for which he was reprimanded fearing that he would hurt himself, which however did not occur.

The patient was discharged and did not require the services of the ambulance.

Evolution after 10 days was satisfactory, with rapid epithelization of the exudative zones and without elial scaling. Slight pigmentation on the upper lip and cheeks remained.

When the paste was applied to the upper lip, the patient felt slightly dizzy, due to the evaporation of the alcohol placed under his nostrils.

The application of the paste to the eyelashes did not irritate the eyes. However, care should be taken when applying the paste to the corners of the eye since direct introduction of the paste in the conjunctiva produces intense pruritus which disappears when the paste is removed.

Conclusions The compound of the present invention, based on two well known and widely used products, obtains therapeutic properties on different types of cutaneous lesions, which are completely new, the biological mechanism of which is under study at present, not represented by the components thereof when used separately in this type of skin lesions.

Depending on the type of lesion, the concentration of the ethyl alcohol can be varied and the ratio thereof with respect to the bicarbonate can also be varied.

The effects of the product are improved if a layer of more than 1 mm in thickness is applied to the affected area which is covered with a bandage or merely with a dressing. In conventional local treatments for such lesions, the alcohol is used as an antiseptic and a sedative (introduction of the entire member), the beneficial effect on the possible appearance of new blisters having also been described. However, the symptomatology reappears when the effects disappear after a few minutes when the arm is removed from the liquid.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIM

   1. Chemical compound for treating burns, essentially characterised in that it comprises a mixture of ethyl alcohol, having any degree or concentration, preferably 96%, and bicarbonates, preferably sodium bicarbonate, the compound being active at bicarbonate-ethyl alcohol concentrations of from 1:2 to 4:1.