Animal Model for the Pressure Sore
Pressure Sore Developed by the Pressure Balloon Method in Spinalized Rabbits
1977 Volume 14 Issue 6 Pages 501-509
Details
1977 Volume 14 Issue 6 Pages 501-509
Pressure sore is one of the most difficult problems in the care of the aged patient. In spite of the importance of this problem, many problems were not settled clearly till now. One of the most difficult points to study is a great influence of the subjective factores. For example, its occurence can be decreased and its progress can be improved, only when the pressure sore is interested by staffs. Therefore, the animal model for the pressure sore is devised using spinalized rabbits, in order to analyse objectively pathogenesis, the effect of treatment, etc.
Methods: The gummi balloon filling up the cylinder cap of ca. 2cm diameter and ca. 1cm hight, was attached gently to the surface of the sheared skin of femoral region. The pressure of the balloon, filled with water, was increased by adding the water into it, and the increased pressure was kept constant during experiments. The pressure in the balloon is monitored continuously by Hg-manometer, and the pressure to skin surface was monitored by using pressure sensor and its recording system.
Results: 1) The pressure of the skin surface against floor in spinalized rabbits was highest in sacral region, and its value was 40±10mmHg. Therefore, the experiments were performed under four different balloon pressure, that is, 150-90mmHg, 90-60mmHg, 60-40mmHg and 30-20mmHg. On the 4th day after beginning of increased pressure, pressure sore was developed in all 9 cases of 150-90mmHg group, in all 7 cases of 90-60mmHg group, but only 2 to 4 cases of 60-40mmHg group; and pressure sore was not developed in all cases of 30-20mmHg group.
2) The change of the skin surface was more obvious when the rubber sheat was placed between balloon and skin than that when the gauge was placed.
3) The pathologcial evidence of the pressure sore developed by pressure balloon method was principally the same of that developed spontaneously at the sacral region of spinalized rabbits and also of that developed in human being.
4) The bacterial flora and the response to local infections of the pressure sore developed in spinalized rabbits was different from those of human being.
In conclusion, the pressure sore developed by the pressure balloon method in spinalized rabbits is useful as animal model for studying the pressure sore in human being except the infectious problem.
