Continuous wound irrigation in the pig.

It was demonstrated in the pig that full-thickness wounds in the skin can be continuously treated by irrigation for several days. Irrigation was accomplished through a porous, occlusively applied dressing having two ports, one for supply and one for drainage. The fluid, delivered by means of an iv set, was sucked through the inert dressing, leaving it partially saturated, and with fluid spread evenly through its pores. Particulate matter was removed along narrow paths converging on the outlet, not showing any significant diversion. The apparatus for fluid supply and drainage was arranged to move with the animal, thus eliminating the risk of obstruction of the tubes as a result of twisting. The fluid was eliminated by one suction line, and the vacuum in the dressing maintained by another. This allowed the suction to be adjusted to a level near the atmospheric pressure.