title: Medicated Manuka honey in conservative management of exomphalos major.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Manuka honey ointment and dressings in the conservative management of exomphalos major (EM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of five patients with EM who underwent non-operative management with Manuka honey ointments and dressings was carried out to assess the time to complete epithelialisation, time to full feeds, hospital stay, adverse effects, complications and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The skin epithelialisation over the EM sac was achieved in a median of 63 days (48-119). The median time to full enteral feed was 13 days (3-29). The median hospital stay was 66 days (21-121). No adverse effects were noted related to Manuka honey. Three patients had pulmonary hypoplasia requiring prolonged hospitalization; one of those died with respiratory complications at home after achieving complete epithelialisation. The follow-up was a median 16 months (6-22). Two patients did not require repair of the ventral hernia. One patient had ventral hernia repair at 16 months with excellent cosmesis. The remaining patient is awaiting repair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first description of the use of medicated Manuka honey ointment and impregnated dressings in the conservative management of EM. This treatment is safe, efficacious and promotes wound healing with favorable outcome.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Cezar Doru
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Nicoara
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jester
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reda
authors.forename: Dakshesh Harivadan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Parikh
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D031649:Leptospermum; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*