Burn treatment by patient immersion in an inert, isotonic liquid, which

Abstract

The survival of a patient with an extensive burn is dependent upon the ability of the burn surgeon to keep the patient in a state of positive nitrogen balance, of immune competence, and in equilibrium with the bacteria colonizing his burn wounds until permanent closure of the wounds is accomplished with autogenous skin grafts. Immune competence and bacteria colonization are controlled by the method of immersing the patient in whole are in part, so as to immerse the burn wound in an isotonic, dielectric, inert, halogenated hydrocarbon liquid, which is selected with a specific gravity greater than the patient. The liquid is kept sterile by absorbing therein ozone, along with cleaning, filtering and heat sterilization. The ozone controls the bacteria colonization whereas the density of the liquid resists loss of cell moisture thus assisting the immune competence and control of a positive nitrogen balance.