Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Sternal Wound Complications: Objective Reclassification and Surgical Reconsideration.

Heart Surgery Forum 2020 Februrary 28
Background: Sternal wound complications pose a tremendous challenge post-cardiac surgery. There’s no consensus or clear guidelines to deal with them. We propose that simple and more objective classification helps to organize the range of sternal wound complications and suggest a relevant treatment strategy.

Methods: One-hundred-sixteen cases of sternal wound complications retrospectively were reviewed out of 2,391 adult patients, who underwent full sternotomy during cardiac surgery from 2006 to 2018. Eighty-six cases conservatively were managed and the remaining 30 cases required surgical intervention. More objective classification was proposed and less invasive fasciocutaneous flap was considered for nearly all reconstructive procedures.

Results: The incidence of sternal wound complications was 4.8%. Conservative management was adopted for 86 cases, mean duration was 11.19 ± 9.8 days. Surgical management was performed in 30 patients (25.86%); 28 (93.3%) of whom recovered with good outcomes with less invasive fasciocutaneous flap done for 13 cases. Two cases had recurrence; one conservatively was managed and other was reoperated and healed well. The most common organisms in recurrent infections were N. coagulase (29.8%), Klebsiella (12.5%), pseudomonas (10.5%), and MRSA (10.5%). We had 4 mortalities. None of the mortalities were related to sternal wound complications; one was related to the cardiac surgery.

Conclusions: Sternal wound complications are grave events. Objective classification and proper management selection will gain better outcomes.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app