Dr Bronwyn Griffin¹, Ms Kristen Storey², Ms Jodie Wiseman³, Prof Roy Kimble^1,4

¹ Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research, 62 Graham Street South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, b.griffin@uq.edu.au
² Pegg Leditschke Children’s Burns Centre, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, 501 Stanley Street South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Kristen.Storey@health.qld.gov.au
³ Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research, 62 Graham Street South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, jodie.wiseman@uqconnect.edu.au
⁴ Surgical Directorate – Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, 501 Stanley Street South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, royk@uq.edu.au

Background

Since the introduction of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) there has been increasing applications of its use in adult population. The same trends, however, have not followed for the use of NPWT in paediatric wounds, much less in paediatric burns.  Current literature describes the dialled pressure on the device, however the actual pressure (mmHg) at the point of skin contact underneath the NPWT has been neglected entirely.

Methods/Design

This cohort study aims to measure the pressure (negative or positive mmHg) applied to the surface of the skin whilst under the use of standard burns dressing and the Renasys Soft Port Pump. Data is currently being collected prospectively from six healthy child participants aged from 6 to13 years of age.  Tests are being conducted on both flat and circumferential surfaces, using -40mmHg, -80mmHg and -120mmHg, using three differing layers of Kerlix^TM (10ply, 20ply, 30ply). The primary outcome measure is the pressure (mmHg) under the dressing.

Results

To date data include the measurements of three participants aged 7 to 10 years, producing a range of readings from 0– 25.3mmHg. Preliminary data suggests that on flat and circumferential surfaces across the three pressures the level of Kerlix^TM increases the pressure readings (IQR 10ply =3.75, IQR 20ply=5.625, IQR 30ply=9.751).

Conclusion

A standardised range of pressure applied by the various modes NPWT delivery will be derived from the completed study. These conclusions are expected to inform 1) consistent clinical application of the NPWT and, 2) the design of future studies involving NPWT.

Key Words

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Paediatric Burns

Biography

Bronwyn Griffin commenced as the Clinical Research Manager in June 2015 with the Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Queensland. Prior to this she worked in paediatric emergency at the Royal Children’s Hospitals in  Brisbane and Melbourne for over 10 years, when Prof Kimble persuaded her into a PhD with the Centre, finally off finishing in 2014.