title: Silver-impregnated hydrofiber dressing followed by delayed surgical closure for management of infants born with giant omphaloceles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We successfully employed silver-impregnated hydrofiber dressing for management of giant omphaloceles (GO) followed by delayed surgical closure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2005 and 2008, eight consecutive GO infants were cared for at Driscoll Children's Hospital. Four patients had additional congenital anomalies including Beckwith-Wiedemann (n = 1), tetralogy of Fallot (n = 1), pulmonary hypoplasia (n = 1), and ruptured omphalocele (n=1). Infants underwent amnion epithelization using a silver-impregnated hydrofiber dressing over the course of several months followed by delayed surgical closure. Mean ± SD of parameters including maternal age, gestational age, infant weight, size of GO, preoperative intubation, preoperative hospitalization, time to epithelization, days to surgical closure, postoperative hospitalization, postoperative intubation and months of follow-up were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients underwent successful closure, 2 were lost to follow-up and 1 was lost because of withdrawal of support. The maternal age, gestation age and weight of infant were 28 ± 5.3 years, 34 ± 4 weeks and 2.5 ± 0.62 kg, respectively. The GO size was 11 cm in length and 11 cm in width, respectively. Preoperative hospitalization days were 78 ± 74 days. Preoperative intubation was 3.5 ± 3.1 days with 2 neonates requiring tracheostomy and home ventilation owing to additional congenital abnormalities. Time to epithelization was 2.9 ± 0.9 months. Days to surgical closure and postoperative hospitalization were 331 ± 119 days and 5 ± 3.4 days, respectively. Average follow-up was 37 ± 27 months. No treatment associated morbidities are noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silver-impregnated hydrofiber mediated epithelization of GO followed by delayed surgical closure is safe for management of infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Marcial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oquendo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Vaidehi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Nursing Resources, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reyna
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Haroon I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Emran
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA. Electronic address: stephen.almond@dchstx.org.
authors.forename: P Stephen
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Almond
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012834:Silver / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012834:Silver
keywords: Abdominal wall defect; Congenital; Omphalocele; Silver impregnated hydrofiber dressing