Surgical treatment of acute infectious purpura fulminans in neonates

Skin and soft tissue necrosis rarely occurs in neonates, although pediatric and plastic surgery services should be aware of this urgent condition [1]. Plastic surgeons are frequently consulted regarding management of soft tissue or open wounds to perform debridement, plan reconstruction or proceed with amputation. Several situations may lead to this condition. Predisposing factors include prematurity, hypercoagulability state, umbilical artery cannulation, thrombosis, hyperosmolar fluid infusions, sepsis [1], thermal abnormality, dry labor and purpura fulminans (PF) [2, 3]. Additional cases have been described as a consequence of intrauterine compression [4], as well as in newborns of diabetic mothers, who have a higher tendency to develop intravascular coagulation [5]. © 2022. Journal of Pediatric and Neonatal Individualized Medicine. All Rights Reserved.