A preterm neonate is at increased risk for extravasation injury associated with intravenous infusions.
Risk factors for extravasation injuries:
(1) extreme prematurity (< 27 weeks)
(2) small veins
(3) tissue fragility
(4) amount of fluid that extravasates
(5) toxicity of the extravasated fluid
(6) duration of extravasation
(7) compartment syndrome
Severe injury can be treated with human amniotic membrane allograft following debridement of the wound.
