Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1988-2-26
pubmed:abstractText
Recent years have seen a trend away from the immediate closure to delayed or nonclosure of the back lesion in open neural tube defects (ONTD). Parental attitudes towards this more conservative surgical policy have not been investigated. We therefore surveyed 70 families in Northern Ireland of children who are still alive, over six months of age who had an ONTD which was not surgically closed immediately after birth. Fifty-eight parents (84%) responded. Most parents (84%) had no difficulty in handling or dressing the back, but three-quarters felt that the lesion was painful and 41% felt that its appearance was disturbing to other members of the family. In those who had delayed closure (n = 15) all parents confirmed that the child was more comfortable and easier to handle afterwards. Eleven of them (73%) felt that the child was more acceptable to the rest of the family and that surgery should have been carried out earlier. A third preferred immediate closure "to make the child more comfortable" and to "improve the general quality of life". However, 46% did not want surgery for fear of upsetting the status quo. This survey suggested that parental attitudes towards the open back lesion differ greatly and that these views should play a greater role in the decisions which influence the timing of closure of ONTD.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0174-3082
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
42 Suppl 1
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
46-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1987
pubmed:articleTitle
Parental attitudes to the unclosed open neural tube defect.
pubmed:affiliation
Dept. of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Northern Ireland, U.K.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article