Bogota Bag and Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Experience in Children

Introduction: As the war that took place in Syria caused many tragedies, it also brought children with open abdominal wounds which are not very common in pediatric surgery practice. In this study, we present the results of ten children treated with BB and NPWT for open-abdomen. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of ten children who were treated with BB and NPWT in our clinic between February 2016 and June 2018. Results: Ten of the patients had sustained firearm injuries during the war in Syria. There were four girls and six boys. The average age was 8.1 years (2-14 years). Five patients received BB in emergency conditions followed by NPWT. Five patients received NPWT only. Abdomen could be closed in all 10 patients who treated with combined BB and/or NWPT. Enteroatmospheric fistula developed in one patient and ventral hernia developed in one patient. No mortality occurred in our patients. Conclusion: BB and NPWT techniques can be applied fast and easy and have a high success rate in children with an open abdomen.