Dressed for success? Silver impregnated nanocrystalline dressing for initial treatment of giant omphalocele

Choice of topical substances in the conservative management of Exomphalos - A systematic review

AIM

Exomphalos is a congenital anomaly found in 1/4500 newborns. Choice of non-operative management of exomphalos major unamenable to primary repair is controversial. This study aims at reviewing conservative management modalities and compare outcomes and complications.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines of all English publications in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Search words were exomphalos OR omphalocoele AND conservative OR non-operative AND management. Studies were scrutinised for patient demographics, co-morbidities, mode of treatment, time to full feeds, time to full epithelialisation, length of stay, complications and mortality. Studies not specifically describing mode of management and/or describing primary or staged surgical repairs were excluded.

RESULTS

Initial search resulted in 1243 studies. Forty-two studies were deemed suitable offering 822 patients for analysis after excluding duplicates and non-eligible studies. Management methods varied including painting with Alcohol, Mercurochrome, silver products, Povidone Iodine, honey and other materials. Mortality was mostly due to associated anomalies. There was mixed reporting of alcohol, silver, Povidone Iodine and mercury toxicity as well as infection during the course of treatment.

CONCLUSION

This report has recognised the variations in topical substances employed for conservative management with no clear consensus. Reports on safety of different methods remain unclear.

[Conservative treatment of giant omphaloceles with dissodic 2% aqueous eosin: a case serie]

La fermeture chirurgicale primaire dans le traitement de l´omphalocèle géante est émaillée des complications. Le traitement conservateur est une option adaptée aux pays à faible revenu où la chirurgie te la réanimation néonatales sont pourvoyeuses d´une grande mortalité. Ceci est une étude prospective menée aux cliniques universitaires de Lubumbashi, incluant les patients reçus entre janvier et avril 2020 et qui ont bénéficié d´un traitement conservateur à l´éosine aqueuse disodique selon un protocole défini. Trois patientes ont été inclues dans notre série. L´âge moyen était de 24 heures (1 - 48), toutes nées à terme (38 - 39 SA), et par voie basse, sans aucun diagnostic anténatal posé. La moyenne du poids de naissance était de 2.800 grammes (2.400 - 3.000). Le diamètre moyen du sac était de 13,7 cm (11 - 15 cm), le sac contenant le foie dans tous les cas. Le délai moyen de nutrition entérale était de 4,3 jours (4 - 5 jours), celui de granulation était de 31,7 jours (30 - 33 jours) et celui d´épithélialisation était de 71,7 jours (60 - 90 jours). Aucun décès n´a été déploré. Ces résultats préliminaires encouragent l´utilisation de l´éosine aqueuse disodique dans le traitement conservateur des omphalocèles géantes non rompues.

Paint and wait management of giant omphaloceles

Management of the very large defect or those in patients with severe comorbidities has evolved to the use of methods that result in escharification and eventual skin coverage over the viscera. This treatment strategy employs principles that were described in the early 20th century. This review will describe the history, principles, methods, and outcomes from the so called 'paint and wait' management of omphalocele.

Nonoperative management of giant omphalocele leading to early fascial closure

PURPOSE

We describe our series of giant omphalocele patients treated with a serial taping method for gradual reduction of the abdominal contents and early fascial closure.

METHODS

Between 2010 and 2017 we cared for ten newborns with giant omphaloceles. The average gestational age was 35.5 weeks (range 29-38) and average birthweight was 2.84 kg. Seven infants had other major anomalies, including one with a variant of Pentology of Cantrell. Four had abnormal chromosomes. None had any attempt to primarily close the defect. Omphalocele defects were serially taped at bedside in the NICU with the child awake until the viscera were completely reduced, and the defect could be closed.

RESULTS

Mean time to closure was 13.7 days (median 14 days). Six were closed primarily without a patch. The remaining four infants required Gore-Tex patch (covered by skin) which was later removed and fascia closed in three infants (at 70 days, 75 days, and 11 months of age). Total length of stay was a mean 71.8 days (median 71).

CONCLUSIONS

Serial taping achieves early fascial closure and avoids complications of a staged surgical approach, such as multiple anesthetics, loss of fascial margin integrity, silo dehiscence, and fistula formation. Compression of the viscera is slow enough to avoid abdominal compartment syndrome and the fascia and amnion are left intact leaving the option available to use escharotic agents if required.

TYPE OF STUDY

Treatment study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.