Successful combined treatment with total parenteral nutrition fluid extravasation injuries in preterm infants

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Dermatology
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Extravasation injuries are a known complication of parenteral hyperalimentation in neonatal intensive care units.
• Various management strategies exist, but effective treatments for these delicate injuries are continuously sought.

Observation:

• A study involving five premature infants with hyperalimentation fluid extravasation was conducted.
• Patients had a mean gestational age of 31 weeks and a mean weight of 1,930g at the time of extravasation.
• The extravasation occurred at a mean of 32 days of age.

Findings:

• A topical treatment combining an antibacterial ointment (Terramycin ophthalmic ointment and sesame oil) and an anti-inflammatory herbal mixture (MEBO) was applied.
• The wounds were irrigated with normal saline and dressed with the mixture, vaseline, and wet gauze, changed every 8-12 hours.
• Complete wound healing was observed in all infants within a mean of 30 days, with minimal contracture and no functional abnormalities.

Implications:

• This combined topical therapy presents a potential alternative treatment for neonatal extravasation injuries.
• Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of this management approach for extravasation injuries.