title: Secondary sternal closure: a method of preventing cardiac compression.
abstract: A patient with severe congenital pulmonary stenosis who underwent pulmonary valvulectomy is reported. Acute cardiac compression and left ventricular failure developed in the immediate postoperative period. Because of extreme cardiac dilatation, the chest wall could not be closed. A technique of secondary sternal closure is described.
mesh_terms: D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008722:Methods; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000601:surgery; D011666:Pulmonary Valve Stenosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*