Management of esophageal perforations in infants by endoscopic vacuum therapy: a single center case series.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) has become a standard treatment method for esophageal perforations in adults. However, experience with EVT in infants is scarce. In this retrospective case series, we report on four very young infants who were successfully treated with EVT for esophageal perforations of different etiology. METHODS: Four infants were diagnosed with esophageal perforations on day 7, 32, 35 and 159 of life, respectively. The youngest one was prematurely born in the 31st week of pregnancy weighing 980 g only. Three infants had perforations due to foreign body insertion (nasogastric tube or pulling through of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube through the esophagus). One child had an anastomotic dehiscence after Foker's surgery for atresia. In three children EVT was applied as first-line therapy for perforation, in one child EVT was a rescue therapy due to persisting leakage after surgical closure involving thoracotomy. Depending on the esophageal diameter, either an open-pore drainage film or polyurethane sponge was attached to a single-lumen 8 Fr suction catheter, endoscopically (or fluoroscopically by wire-guidance) placed into the esophagus (intraluminal EVT) and supplied with continuous negative pressure (ranging between 75 and 150 mmHg). The EVT system was exchanged twice per week. RESULTS: Complete closure of the perforation/leakage could be achieved in all four infants (100%) after 22 days of continuous EVT (median value; range 7-39) and 4.5 EVT exchanges (median value; range 1-12). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: EVT is an effective and safe addition to our therapeutic armamentarium in the management of esophageal perforations irrespective of its etiology. Here we prove the feasibility of EVT even in very young infants. The use of an extra thin vacuum open-pore drainage film is helpful to cope with the small esophageal diameter. EVT settings and exchange rates similar to those known from adult treatment were used.

Sistema de presión negativa en loxoscelismo cutáneo-visceral. Reporte de un caso

Introducción: Las mordeduras por araña parda pueden manifestarse desde una simple lesión dérmica en el área de la mordedura, hasta formas graves, con falla orgánica múltiple. Caso Clínico: presentamos el caso de una paciente con mordedura por araña parda, quien presenta inicialmente lesiones dérmicas sin necrosis, evolucionando con áreas de necrosis y el desarrollo de síndrome compartimental de extremidad, sepsis, choque séptico y falla renal. Mejora tras manejo intensivo, anti veneno y colocación de terapia de presión negativa (TPN) en herida, conservando la extremidad afectada integra y recuperando la función renal. Discusion: Este caso en particular presenta los tres tipos de manifestaciones que se generan en el loxoscelismo, las cuales son una forma de presentación poco frecuente. El tratamiento con TPN se ha introducido como una terapia poderosa, no farmacológica para ayudar a acelerar el proceso de cicatrización de heridas y puede ser de utilidad en pacientes con mordedura de araña (loxoscelismo).

Introduction: The brown spider bites have the peculiarity of manifesting from a simple skin lesion in the area of the bite, to severe forms, with multiple organic failure. Clinical Case: We present the case of a patient with a brown spider bite, initially presenting dermal lesions without necrosis, evolving with areas of necrosis and the development of compartment syndrome of extremities, sepsis, septic shock and renal failure. Improvement after intensive management and installation in negative pressure therapy wound (NPT), keeping the affected limb integrated and recovering renal function. Discussion: This case in particular presents the three types of manifestations that are generated in loxoscelism, which are a rare form of presentation. The NPT treatment has been introduced as a powerful, non-pharmacological and physical therapy to help accelerate the wound healing process and may be useful in patients with spider bites.