title: Novel application of vacuum assisted closure technique to the treatment of sternotomy wound infection.
abstract: Infection of the sternotomy wound is a potentially devastating and sometimes lethal complication following cardiac surgery. Established treatment may involve a combination of debridement, packing, delayed closure, plastic reconstruction, re-wiring and irrigation dependent on the severity of infection. Vacuum assisted closure, originally adopted for the treatment of non-healing wounds, has recently gained popularity among various surgical specialities in managing complex wound infection. Here we describe this novel technique of managing postoperative sternal wound infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Wessex Regional Thoracic & Cardiac Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK. gusTMTang@aol.com
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ohri
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Haw
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011312:Pressure; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014618:Vacuum; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology