TITLE:
Management of Extravasation Injuries in Preterm Infants
AUTHORS:
Ana De Leo, Billy Ching Leung, Henk Giele, Lucy Cogswell
KEYWORDS:
Extravasation, Non-Chemotherapeutic, Preterm, Infants, Treatment
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.7 No.9,
September
26,
2016
ABSTRACT: Extravasation
injuries occur in up to 70% of neonates in intensive care, majority being
preterm infants. Their fragile and premature anatomy makes prevention and management
of extravasation extra difficult compared to those of full-term. With
increasing advances of intensive care for preterm infants, the use of
intravenous medication and nutrition will increase, thus lead to further
potential risk of extravasation injuries, which has serious complications, such
as full-thickness skin loss, tissue necrosis and acute limb compartment
syndrome, with long-term functional and cosmetic sequelae. There is a current
lack of evidence in the literature on the most appropriate therapeutic strategy
for this vulnerable patient group. This review aims to highlight our trust regime
on the management of extravasation injuries (non-chemotherapeutic) for preterm
infants, including injury classification and assessment, and implementation of
initial interventions.