title: Review of the technique and complications of median sternotomy in the dog and cat.
abstract: The surgical and medical records of 67 dogs and nine cats which underwent median sternotomy over a five-year period were reviewed. The indication for median sternotomy and the short and longer term complications were recorded. Twenty-six of the dogs died or were euthanased within 48 hours of the surgery as a consequence of the pre-existing disease or complications of the intrathoracic surgical procedure. A further four dogs were enthanased between 48 hours and 14 days following confirmation of neoplastic processes. Thirty-seven dogs were alive at 14 days: of these, seven dogs (19 per cent) experienced short-term wound complications, including haemorrhage, wound infection, thoracic limb neurological deficits and excessive postoperative discomfort. Of the 37 dogs alive for longer term follow-up, eight dogs (22 per cent) experienced wound complications, including haemorrhage, sternal fracture, sternal osteomyelitis and delayed wound healing. No complications were noted in the cats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002415:Cats / Q000601:surgery*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D015994:Incidence; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary