Title : Efficacy and safety of decontamination with a hypertonic and amphoteric solution after chemical exposure  

Objectives : Review the safety and efficacy of Diphoterine® solution, which is a hypertonic and amphoteric solution, for chemical burn treatment of skin and eyes.

Methods : Information sources were PubMed, Sciencedirect and Google Scholar. Terms included were Diphoterine, chemical burn irrigation, chemical injury, management, chemical burn emergency, Previn solution, skin decontamination and eye decontamination. Any study published through a peer-reviewed journal was considered eligible. Published data must have included Diphoterine® solution or chemical lesions and decontamination management used. Various testimonials received from industries and organisations were added to this bibliographic research.

Results: The retrieved data could be classified as studies of safety or studies of efficacy. 
Main safety results showed that Diphoterine® solution is non-irritant for skin and eyes, non cytotoxic and non toxic with acute oral and dermal LD50> 2000mg/kg. 
As to the efficacy of the solution, results could be divided in three categories. 
First one is industry testimonies, more than 70, concerning immediate use after a chemical splash.
Second one concerns chemical accident in industries, pre-hospital and hospital, more than 400 cases of irritant and corrosive.
Third one comprises a dozen comparative studies with more than 2700 cases washed with various solutions (water, saline or Diphoterine®).
These documents helped to extract main conclusions about time of intervention, which were split in immediate intervention (industry) and delayed one (pre-hospital and hospital).

Conclusion:
When hypertonic and amphoteric solution of Diphoterine® is used immediately after the accident, it often enables tissues to be preserved without any lesion. When used after a delayed wash, the need of medical treatment or surgery decreases and allows medical cares in best conditions.
In all cases, Diphoterine® solution helps to fix the chemical burning process.

5 - Efficacy and safety of decontamination with a hypertonic and amphoteric solution after chemical exposure