Nursing Management of Abdominal Wound Dehiscence of an Infant With Severe Undernutrition and Peristomal Moisture-Associated Dermatitis After Ileostomy Closure: A Case Study.

BACKGROUND

Abdominal wound dehiscence (AWD) is a costly postoperative complication; its management is particularly challenging for WOC nurses when it occurs secondary to an ostomy closure.

CASE: We present a case of AWD secondary to ileostomy closure in Baby Q, a 9-month 19-day-old female infant. A silver wound contact dressing was used on her dehisced wound followed by negative pressure wound therapy and adhesive tape to pull the wound edge together and promote granulation. We used a combination of enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, total parenteral nutrition, and total enteral nutrition adjusting the feeding plan stepwise according to her nutritional status.

CONCLUSIONS

Malnutrition and severe peristomal skin complications may contribute to the risk of AWD in infants undergoing reversal of a temporary ostomy. Assessing and treating nutritional status and peristomal skin is imperative before performing ostomy closure.