A Sternal wound can be a serious complication that can lead to high morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.Transverse sternotomy in association with a bilateral thoracotomy (ie, clamshell incision) is used less often but may be needed to manage large tumours, chest trauma or to perform bilateral lung transplantation. Current paradigms in the management of sternal wound infection include surgical debridement, vacuum-assisted closure therapy, flap coverage, and sternal plating. This article explores some of the procedures used for complications of the wound.
Deep sternal wound infection, is a life-threatening complication after median sternotomy. Patients undergoing a median sternotomy for coronary artery bypass grafting have the highest rate of sternal wound infections compared with those for other surgeries. Additional surgical risk factors have been reported and include…
