ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Mepitel(R) is a porous silicone dressing material which allows exudate to pass into an outer absorbent dressing and prevents the outer dressing from sticking to the wound. We compared the effects of Mepitel(R) to the standard vaseline gauze dressing on full thickness skin defect of the rat. METHODS: Two full thickness skin defects in rats (n=12) were developed on the back and applied Mepitel(R) on one defect and vaseline gauze on the other. Wound sizes, histologic findings and eletron microscopic findings were evaluated. RESULTS: The wound size of Mepitel(R) group decreased faster than vaseline gauze group with statistically significant difference during whole experimental period. In histolotic findings, Mepitel(R) group showed more epithelialization and granulation tissue formation and less inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis than vaseline gauze group with statistically significant differences on scores (p=0.014 (at 1 week), 0.042 (at 2 weeks)). Electron microscopic findings supported histologic observation that Mepitel(R) dressing had rapid wound healing effects than vaseline gauze dressing. CONCLUSION: The dressing using Mepitel(R) prevents wound damage whenever changing dressings and protects newly formed tissue, therefore provides better wound healing effect compared to the vaseline gauze dressing.