Cath Lab Digest

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Index: Ostomy Wound Manage. 2012;58(1):36-40

  To view and to treat pediatric patients with wounds as though they are small adults is to ignore the very essence of vulnerability, potential for congenital malformations, and tenacious physiologic complexities that make these patients unique. The integumentary, physiology, psychomotor, cognitive, and psychoemotional developmental continuum that encompasses “pediatrics” from prematurity to late adolescence underscores this population’s unique characteristics, the breadth of knowledge and sensitivity required of clinicians, and the armamentarium of treatment approaches needed.

  The world of healthcare can be a daunting environment for adults, stripping them of control and invoking fear and feelings of helplessness. Imagine the infused emotions of parents who must entrust their wounded child into the world of medical technology. As healthcare professionals, we must impart to frightened families and to their wounded child our sensitivity and humanity with finesse, while also possessing technological skill. But how prepared are we to deliver evidence-based care to wounds of varying etiologies? Most of our wound care practices are based on an adult model of care; to take care of our younger patients, we must compromise with offlabel use of adult products. Even from an epidemiological standpoint, chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers are inadequately captured, because the adult data collection tools and methodologies utilized ignore the >50% occurrence of medical device-related injuries common to the population. Independent of race, ethnicity, and social class, acute and chronic wounds, as well as wounds related to diseases, continue to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide.

  In recent years, Bambino Gesu’ Children’s Hospital in Rome, Italy witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of children admitted with wounds. Pressure ulcers, medical device-related injuries, and trauma cases have grown exponentially. In response to this rising volume and obvious need for specialized pediatric wound care services, the first Italian Wound Care Pediatric Surgical Center was created. This facility provided the enthusiastic impetus for the creation of the 1st International Symposium on Pediatric Wound Care (ISPeW) held in Rome, Italy. This pediatric wound care-focused symposium convened multidisciplinary world leaders in pediatric wound care; pediatric plastic, hand, burn, orthopedic, podiatric, and general surgery; basic science; clinical research; dermatology; nursing; telemedicine; palliative care; pain management; nutrition; infectious diseases; pharmacology; and academia for an historic 2-and-a-half day scientific event. This memorable conference, held at the Angelicum Congress Center, Pontificia Universitas San Tommaso D’Aquino, October 27-29, 2011, boasted an attendance of 425 attendees representing 23 countries. Ninety presentations were delivered by invited speakers, along with 20 oral abstracts and 20 scientific posters. This scientific event and the formation of the International Society of Pediatric Wound Care (ISPeW) were organized by three visionary colleagues and friends: Drs. Guido Ciprandi, Marco Romanelli, and Corrado Maria Durante.