A new sternal retraction device for the dissection of the internal mammary artery.
For the dissection of the internal mammary artery (IMA), we use a new sternal retraction technique. The retractor is an angled stainless steel device with a slotted face and two sternal arresting hooks. The method is simple and the device acts as a unit with a standard sternal spreader. The time period between mounting and the exposure of the IMA is only a few seconds. The entire procedure takes place in the sterile operative field. By utilizing this method, we dissected nearly 300 IMAs without any complications or serious sternal injuries.
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Central Hospital Links der Weser, Bremen, Germany.
D
D
Baykut
N
N
Tsilimingas
K H
KH
Leitz
D004210:Dissection / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013525:Surgical Instruments