Tissue repair in neonatal and pediatric surgery: analysis on infections in surgically implanted natural biomaterials.

INTRODUCTION: Over the past 4 decades commercially available natural and synthetic biomaterials have been employed for various reconstructive procedures in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to identify the types of commercially available natural biomaterials and their areas of application in the pediatric age group. Furthermore, to perform an analysis to identify areas of application and types of biomaterials those have increased susceptibility to infections in the pediatric population.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The literature was reviewed from 1970-2015 using a Medline search and data concerning application of different natural biomaterials was collected. Specific search was performed regarding to infections associated with these biomaterials.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The rate of major infection after implantation of the biomaterial in the group of 298 reviewed cases was 5%. Patients with acute burn wounds which were treated with biomaterials presented the group with higher infection rates of 5-33%.

CONCLUSIONS: The demand for these biomaterials has exponentially increased due to the worldwide rise in interest in tissue engineering research. Even using the appropriate techniques of implantation and professional postoperative care biomaterial associated infections cannot be eliminated. However, the current rate of infections is not a limiting factor for using the biomaterials in pediatric surgery.