Medical management of cutaneous sulfur mustard injuries.

Background: Sulfur mustard (2,2'-dichlorodiethyl sulfide; HD) is a potent vesicating chemical warfare agent that poses a continuing threat to both military and civilian populations. Significant cutaneous HD injuries can take several months to heal, necessitate lengthy hospitalizations, and result in long-term complications. There are currently no standardized or optimized methods of casualty management.

Noninvasive methods for determining lesion depth from vesicant exposure.

Before sulfur mustard (HD) injuries can be effectively treated, assessment of lesion depth must occur. Accurate depth assessment is important because it dictates how aggressive treatment needs to be to minimize or prevent cosmetic and functional deficits. Depth of injury typically is assessed by physical examination.

Improved wound healing of cutaneous sulfur mustard injuries in a weanling pig model.

Objective: The objective was to examine the efficacy of several treatment regimens in improving wound healing of cutaneous sulfur mustard (HD) injuries.

Methods: Wound healing studies were conducted in weanling pigs. Superficial dermal HD injuries were debrided at 48 hours postexposure using an erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser, followed by application of a treatment adjunct.

A vapor exposure model for neonatal mice.

Sulfur mustard (HD) is a vesicant compound that was first used as a chemical warfare agent in World War I. (Papirmeister et al. 1991).