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Negative pressure therapy is effective to manage a variety of wounds in infants and children
Author(s) -
McCord Shan S.,
NaikMathuria Bindi J.,
Murphy Kathy M.,
McLane Kathy M.,
Gay Andre N.,
Bob Basu C.,
Downey Cara R.,
Hollier Larry H.,
Olutoye Oluyinka O.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-475x.2007.00229.x
Subject(s) - medicine , retrospective cohort study , surgery , negative pressure wound therapy , suction , prospective cohort study , pediatrics , mechanical engineering , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
ABSTRACT Negative pressure therapy (NPT) has been accepted as a valuable adjunct for wound closure in adults; however, reports on its effectiveness in young children and infants, including neonates, are limited. A retrospective chart review was conducted on children treated with NPT at a single institution between January 2003 and December 2005. Wound volumetric measurements were calculated at the start and end of therapy. Sixty‐eight patients with 82 wounds were identified. The mean age was 8.5 years (range 7 days–18 years). Twenty patients (29%) were 2 years of age or younger, including eight neonates. Wound types included: pressure ulcers ( n =13), extremity wounds ( n =18), dehisced surgical wounds ( n =19), open sternal wounds ( n =10), wounds with fistulas ( n =3), and complex abdominal wall defects ( n =6). Low suction pressures (<100 mmHg) were generally used in children younger than 4 years of age. Following NPT, 93% of wounds decreased in volume. The average wound volume decrease was 80% ( p <0.01, n =56). NPT can be effectively used to manage a variety of wounds in children and neonates. No major complications were identified in our retrospective review. Prospective studies are required to better refine the use of this technology in children.