Several anaesthetic drugs have demonstrated antibacterial properties in vitro. Anaesthetics can primarily affect the cell wall of both susceptible and multi-resistant bacteria. They may also have a synergistic effect with conventional antibiotics through an unknown mechanism. We present three cases of a chronic venous ulcer infected by multi-resistant bacteria refractory to conventional systemic antibiotics, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Treatment with topical sevoflurane was performed for 1 month without systemic antibiotics. Patients with an MRSA infection showed progressive improvement with negative culture at the end of the treatment. Multi-drug-resistant P. aeruginosa infection persisted at the end of treatment with positive culture. The local adverse events were mild and transient, including heat, pruritus and erythema. Topical sevoflurane may have an antibacterial effect on sensitive and multi-resistant strains. It can allow more complete surgical cleaning, leaving a cleaner wound with less fibrin and necrotic tissue. This decreases the bacterial colonisation and therefore the infectious risk, the bad smell and the exudation. The simultaneous use of conventional antibiotics and topical sevoflurane can have a synergistic antimicrobial effect.

The present study assesses the efficacy and safety of topical sevoflurane in chronic venous ulcers and its impact on analgesia and healing. This retrospective study included 30 patients older than 65 years with painful refractory chronic venous ulcers. Patients were treated with topical sevoflurane prior to the usual ulcer cleaning every 2 days for a period of 1 month. Treatment was initiated with a saline solution, followed by direct irrigation of 1 ml of liquid sevoflurane over the wound size, which was measured as cm . Sevoflurane had a fast, intense and long-lasting analgesic effect. Latency time ranged from 2 to 7 minutes (3·9 ± 1·5 minutes), and duration varied from 8 to 18 hours (12 ± 2·9). The mean ulcer size was 8·4 ± 9·7 cm . There was a progressive decrease in size in all patients, with a mean size of 4·2 ± 5·4 cm at the end of the study. There were no adverse systemic effects. Local adverse effects were mild and transient, including pruritus, erythema and heat. Topical sevoflurane is a new, efficient and safe therapeutic alternative in painful chronic venous ulcers, refractory to usual analgesic treatment. It can improve the ulcer-healing process that shortens the cicatrisation period.

Topical sevoflurane has an intense, fast, and long-lasting local analgesic effect with an adequate safety profile. It also diminishes the taking of other conventional analgesic drugs. Topical sevoflurane is an efficient and safe therapeutic alternative for refractory painful CVUs.

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