title: Recent experience with major sternal wound complications.
abstract: During a recent 1-year period, 31 patients sustained a major sternal wound infection and sternal dehiscence developed in 6 patients. Multiple potential risk factors were tabulated in these patients and in a control group selected from 1,521 patients undergoing sternotomy during the same time period. The overall infection rate was 2.1%, and the mortality rate in the patients with sternal infection or dehiscence was 16.2%. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, prolonged intensive care unit stay, respiratory failure, connective tissue disease, and male sex were significantly higher in the group with sternal infection or dehiscence (p less than 0.05). Advanced age and low cardiac output episodes were more frequent in this group, but only approached statistical significance. Although several risk factors may have been interrelated, male sex and the presence of pulmonary disease were statistically independent predictors of sternal wound infection. Risk factors may be helpful in identifying high-risk patients for additional prophylactic measures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Demmy
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Liebler
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Burkholder
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Benckart
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Magovern
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Magovern
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors