Russian physicians have proposed a new clinical approach to accelerate rehabilitation after surgical treatment of firearm injuries. It was developed by specialists at the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital together with colleagues from the Vishnevsky National Medical Research Centre for Surgery.
The method is based on vasoactive peptides – compounds previously used to treat chronic ischaemia. They have a pronounced angioprotective effect, helping to strengthen blood vessel walls.
“After surgery, patients require adequate pharmacological correction with biologically active compounds to optimise their general condition. The nature of gunshot and shrapnel injuries involves extensive damage to the vascular bed and a cascade of pathophysiological disorders, so we applied peptide therapy to restore vascular function,” said Konstantin Petrov, senior resident of the vascular surgery department at the Cardiovascular Surgery Centre and a physician at the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital.
The approach developed by the Russian specialists is already being used in the early postoperative period and has shown encouraging results in a number of clinical cases.
According to preliminary estimates, the method has accelerated reparative processes by at least 1.5-fold, Petrov said. He stressed, however, that further studies are needed to obtain objective data on its efficacy.
Earlier, Siberian scientists developed a gel for wound treatment based on recombinant bacteriophage endolysins.
