13 February 2009
Washington, USA
Flooding wounds with carbon dioxide (CO2) gas during surgery could protect the site from airborne bacteria infections and kill germs, a study said
Flooding wounds with carbon dioxide (CO2) gas during surgery could protect the site from airborne bacteria and also suffocate germs, according to a study.
CO2 is already used for this purpose in the food packaging business. Humidified CO2 would also keep the wound warm and moist, which should reduce tissue damage and speed–up healing.
Study authors Mikael Persson and Jan van der Linden of Karolinska Institute in Sweden, have already tested their idea in the lab and the next step should be a proper clinical trial on humans, reports IANS.
The study explained that wound infection is a serious surgical complication leading to longer stays in hospital and greater risk of death. Problems include bacterial contamination of the wound, drying of body tissues and heat loss.
The study has also been adjudged the winner of the 2008 David Horrobin Prize for medical theory.
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