title: Effective technique of sternum closure in high-risk patients.
abstract: A successful technique of closing the sternum in a selected group of poor-risk patients involves the combination of a mattress suture and a fixative single-wire suture, both of 0 stainless-steel monofilament. Our technique was used on 100 high-risk patients and compared with double control groups, one consisting of 200 normal-risk patients and the second of 100 high-risk patients. We found that the incidence of wound infections was reduced to 1% with our new technique compared with 3% and 1% in the control groups (the high- and normal-risk groups, respectively). There was neither dehiscence nor mediastinitis in the study group, compared with 1% and 0.5% incidences of these complications in the controls. Also, there was no mortality in the combined-closure group compared with mortality of 0.5% and 1% in the control groups. We believe that this closure effectively strengthens the complex of bone and wire, improving the stability of the chest by giving a correct axis to the sternum. It is also cost-effective and easy to perform and does not prolong operation time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nestel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Snir
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vidne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001864:Bone Wires; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures