INTRODUCTION Sternal dehiscence, sternal wound infection and mediastinitis are troublesome complications following median sternotomy which are major causes of morbidity and mortality of patients. Synthetic polydioxanone absorbable suture seems effective in prevention of these complications in children undergoing open heart surgery. METHODS During 2 years period, 620 patients who underwent med...

introduction: deep sternal wound infection is a rare but serious complication after cardiac surgery that can increase mortality and morbidity. the aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and causative germs of deep sternal wound infection following cardiac surgery.   methods: data were collected retrospectively from patients who underwent different cardiac surgeries including coronar...

Dehiscence of median sternotomy wounds remains a clinical problem. Wall forces in thin-walled pressure vessels can be calculated by membrane stress theory. An ellipsoid pressure vessel model of sternal forces is presented together with its application for optimal wire placement in the sternum. Sternal forces were calculated by computational simulation using an ellipsoid chest wall model. Sterna...

OBJECTIVE The diagnosis and treatment of sternal wound infections with mycobacteria are challenging. Such an infection is often associated with a delayed diagnosis and improper treatment that may lead to a worsened clinical outcome. The present study is designed to highlight its clinical features so as to facilitate a prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. METHODS MEDLINE, Highwire Press, and...

a three day old neonate was referred to our department with a problem of a sternal cleft. sternal clefts are often associated with a myriad of other abnormalities ranging from mild to severe. we present our experience with such a problem, and review the current literature concerning it.

OBJECTIVES To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a novel ELISA for the serodiagnosis of surgical site infection (SSI) due to staphylococci following median sternotomy. METHODS Twelve patients with a superficial sternal SSI and 19 with a deep sternal SSI due to Staphylococcus aureus were compared with 37 control patients who also underwent median sternotomy for cardiac surgery but ex...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess whether (1) there is an increased incidence of sternal fractures associated with internal mammary artery (IMA) revascularization in open heart surgery and (2) there is a higher incidence of pain in postoperative patients with sternal fractures. METHODS Two hundred eighty-eight consecutive adult patients who had undergone cardiac surgery underwent median sternotomy f...

The sternal lymph nodes receive drainage from a wide variety of structures in the thoraco-abdominal region. Evaluation of these lymph nodes is essential, especially in cancer patients. Computed tomography (CT) can detect sternal lymph nodes more accurately than radiography or ultrasonography, and the criteria of the sternal lymphadenopathy are unknown. The purpose of this retrospective study wa...