Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Medicated Manuka honey in conservative management of exomphalos major

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Surgery International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Manuka honey ointment and dressings in the conservative management of exomphalos major (EM).

Methods

A retrospective review of five patients with EM who underwent non-operative management with Manuka honey ointments and dressings was carried out to assess the time to complete epithelialisation, time to full feeds, hospital stay, adverse effects, complications and outcome.

Results

The skin epithelialisation over the EM sac was achieved in a median of 63 days (48–119). The median time to full enteral feed was 13 days (3–29). The median hospital stay was 66 days (21–121). No adverse effects were noted related to Manuka honey. Three patients had pulmonary hypoplasia requiring prolonged hospitalization; one of those died with respiratory complications at home after achieving complete epithelialisation. The follow-up was a median 16 months (6–22). Two patients did not require repair of the ventral hernia. One patient had ventral hernia repair at 16 months with excellent cosmesis. The remaining patient is awaiting repair.

Conclusion

This is the first description of the use of medicated Manuka honey ointment and impregnated dressings in the conservative management of EM. This treatment is safe, efficacious and promotes wound healing with favorable outcome.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Magnusson DK (2006) Abdominal wall defects. In: Stringer MD, Oldham KT, Mouriquand PDE (eds) Pediatric surgery and urology: long-term outcomes (second edition). Cambridge University Press, pp 270–285

  2. Pacilli M, Spitz L, Kiely EM et al (2005) Staged repair of giant omphalocele in the neonatal period. J Pediatr Surg 40:785–788

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lee SL, Todd D, Beyer TD, Kim SS et al (2006) Initial nonoperative management and delayed closure for treatment of giant omphaloceles. J Pediatr Surg 41:1846–1849

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Marven S, Owen A (2008) Contemporary postnatal surgical management strategies for congenital abdominal wall defects. Semin Pediatr Surg 17(4):222–235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Mullins ME, Horowitz BZ (1999) Iatrogenic neonatal mercury poisoning from mercurochrome treatment of a large omphalocele. Clin Pediatr 38:111–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cosman BC, Schullinger JN, Bell JJ et al (1988) Hypothyroidism caused by topical povidone-iodine in a newborn with omphalocele. J Pediatr Surg 23:356–358

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lewis N, Kolimarala V, Lander A (2010) Conservative management of exomphalos major with silver dressings: are they safe? J Pediatr Surg 45(12):2438–2439

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Jull AB, Walker N, Deshpande S (2013) Honey as a topical treatment for wounds. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 28 2:CD005083

    Google Scholar 

  9. Riddle JM (1985) Dioscorides on pharmacy and medicine. University of Texas Press, Austin

    Google Scholar 

  10. Trevisanato SI (2006) Treatments for burns in the London Medical Papyrus show the first seven biblical plagues of Egypt are coherent with Santorini’s volcanic fallout. Med Hypotheses 66:193–196

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Oryan A, Zaker SR (1998) Effects of topical application of honey on cutaneous wound healing in rabbits. J Vet Med Ser A 45(3):181–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Molan PC (1999) Why honey is effective as a medicine. 1. Its use in modern medicine. Bee World 80:80–92

    Google Scholar 

  13. Molan PC (2001) Why honey is effective as medicine. 2. The scientific explanation of its effects. Bee World 82:22–40

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jull A, Walker N, Parag V, Molan P, Rodgers A, on behalf of the Honey as Adjuvant Leg Ulcer Therapy trial collaborators (2008) Randomized clinical trial of honey-impregnated dressings for venous leg ulcers. Br J Surg 95(2):175–182

    Google Scholar 

  15. Molan PC, Betts JA (2004) Clinical usage of honey as a wound dressing: an update. J Wound Care 13(9):353–356

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Vachharajani AJ, Rao R, Keshwani S, Mathur AM (2009) Outcome of exomphalos: an institutional experience. Pediatr Surg Int 25:139–144

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Russell AD, Hugo WB (1994) Antimicrobial activity and action of silver. Prog Med Chem 31:351–370

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Charlsworth P, Ervine E, McCullagh M (2009) Exomphalos major: the Northern Ireland experience. Pediatr Surg Int 25:77–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Tsakayannis DE, Zurakowski D, Lillehei CW (1996) Respiratory insufficiency at birth: a predictor for infants with omphalocele. J Pediatr Surg 31:1088–1091

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Danzer E, Hendrick HL, Rintoul NE, Siegle J, Adzick NS, Panitch HB (2012) Assessment of early pulmonary abnormalities in giant omphalocele survivors. J Pediatr Surg 47:1811–1820

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Arnon SS, Midura TF, Damus K, Thompson B, Wood RM, Chin J (1979) Honey and other environmental risk factors for infant botulism. J Pediatr 94(2):331–336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Molan PC, Allen KL (1996) The effects of gamma-irradiation on the antibacterial activity of honey. J Pharm Pharmacol 48(11):1206–1209

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Eddy J, Gideonson M, Mack G (2008) Practical considerations of using topical honey for neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers: a review. Wis Med J 107(4):187–190

    Google Scholar 

  24. Molan P, Betts J (2008) Using honey to heal diabetic foot ulcers. Adv Skin Wound Care 21(7):313–316

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Bauer L, Kohlich A, Hirschweir R, Siemann U, Ebner H, Scheiner O, Kraft D, Ebner C (1996) Food allergy to honey: pollen or bee products? Characterisation of allergenic proteins in honey by means of immunoblotting. J Allergy Clin Immunol 97(1):65–73

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

    Cezar Doru Nicoara, Michael Singh, Ingo Jester, Bernadette Reda & Dakshesh Harivadan Parikh

Authors
  1. Cezar Doru Nicoara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ingo Jester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bernadette Reda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dakshesh Harivadan Parikh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dakshesh Harivadan Parikh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nicoara, C.D., Singh, M., Jester, I. et al. Medicated Manuka honey in conservative management of exomphalos major. Pediatr Surg Int 30, 515–520 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-014-3490-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-014-3490-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation