Treating extravasation injury by honey antibacterial wound dressing in a neonate: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Phlebitis, vessel rupture and drug leaks or serum are the most complication of peripheral venous catheterizations in neonates. Extravasation injury is characterized by the leakage of injected medications from blood vessels causing injury to the surrounding tissues, skin necrosis, and even amputation. CASE PRESENTATION: This case was a 37-week- and 6-day-old male neonate with a birth weight of 2150 g, a height of 41 cm, and a head circumference of 31 cm who was born to a 28-year-old mother by cesarean section at Mahzad Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Urmia, Iran. On the fourth day of hospitalization at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), an extravasation injury happened in the neonate's left hand in size approximately 2 × 2 cm by a peripheral intravenous catheter. The extravasation did not heal despite extensive intravenous antibiotic therapy and rinsing with normal saline. The neonate was referred to our wound management team. The extravasation injury was treated by using of honey antibacterial wound dressing (Medihoney™) twice a day for a month. The infant's extravasation injury was relatively healed after two weeks, and he was discharged from our wound treatment team after four weeks in good general condition. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Neonates are more susceptible to extravasation injury compared to adults as their peripheral vascular walls are more sensitive and thinner. CONCLUSION: This case revealed that honey antibacterial wound dressing (Medihoney™) could be an alternative to other common dressings in neonates suffering from extravasation injury.