Introduction.

Negative pressure therapy is an increasingly used resource in the management of complex wounds in pediatrics. The objective of this study was to describe the experience with this therapy in different clinical situations.

Methods.

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in a group of pediatric patients who received negative pressure therapy between 2010 and 2015. We analyzed the sociodemographic variables, the diagnoses that indicated the therapy, the time of use of the therapy, complications and mortality.

Results.

A total of 41 patients were included. Therapy was indicated in 39 cases with wounds located in the abdomen, in one with infection of the perianal soft tissues, and in another with an infected sternotomy wound. Of the abdominal wounds, 14 were due to complications related to acute appendicitis, six due to diseases related to megacolon, five due to intestinal obstruction, four for the management of fistulas, four due to necrotizing enterocolitis of the newborn, three due to acute pancreatitis, and three due to other causes. The average time of use of the therapy was 7 days. Vacuum system failures occurred in two patients, but there were no complications from the use of therapy. Two patients died of complications related to their underlying disease.

Conclusion.

Negative pressure therapy is an effective resource in the management of complex wounds in the pediatric population.

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