Related Experiment Videos
Vacuum-assisted closure in the paediatric patient with post-cardiotomy mediastinitis
I R Ramnarine1, A McLean, J C S Pollock
1Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Dalnair Street, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UK. ianramnarine@hotmail.com
Insights
Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) successfully treated post-cardiotomy mediastinitis in an infant, a previously unreported success. This innovative wound management technique also improved respiratory function in the neonate.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal surgery
- Thoracic surgery
- Wound healing technologies
Background:
- Mediastinitis poses a significant mortality risk in neonatal cardiac surgery.
- Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) is an established wound management technique for difficult-to-treat wounds.
Observation:
- The V.A.C. device was used to treat post-cardiotomy mediastinitis in an infant.
- This represents a novel application of the V.A.C. device in a neonatal patient.
Findings:
- Successful treatment of post-cardiotomy mediastinitis was achieved using the V.A.C. device in an infant.
- The V.A.C. therapy demonstrated an improvement in the mechanics of respiration.
Implications:
- The V.A.C. device offers a potential new treatment option for neonatal post-cardiotomy mediastinitis.
- Further research into the risks, benefits, and guidelines for V.A.C. use in neonates is warranted.
Abstract:
Mediastinitis has a high mortality and is a major cause for concern in the neonatal cardiac surgical population. Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) is a newly established technique for expediting healing in the management of wounds resistant to established treatments; this includes the treatment of post-cardiotomy mediastinitis in the adult cardiac surgical patient. We describe the previously unreported use of the V.A.C. device for the successful treatment of post-cardiotomy mediastinitis in an infant. The device also improved the mechanics of respiration. We discuss potential risks and benefits of V.A.C. and suggest guidelines for its use.