Sternal closure with resorbable synthetic loop suture material in children.
OBJECTIVE
The reliability of poly-p-dioxanone (PDS) suture for sternal closure was tested on 264 consecutive sternotomies in the authors' department from April 1987 to May 1998.


METHODS
The reason for sternotomy was tetralogy of Fallot in 65 cases (24.6%), ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 38 cases (14.4%), atrial septal defect (ASD) in 77 cases (29.2%), ASD + VSD in 23 (8.7%), mitral valve replacement in 22 cases (8.3%), aortic valve replacement in 10 cases (3.8%), and other cardiac disorders in 29 cases (11.0%).


RESULTS
Sternal wound infection, sternal dehiscence, and mediastinitis occurred in 1.5% of patients (4 of 264). The overall hospital mortality rate related to the mediastinitis was 1.1% (3 of 264) in the early postoperative period.


CONCLUSIONS
This absorbable suture and our different technique are a safe alternative to standard sternotomy closure after pediatric open cardiac surgery.
Keçeligil
H T
HT
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Kolbakir
F
F
Akar
H
H
Konuralp
C
C
Demir
Z
Z
Demirağ
M K
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004146:Dioxanes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011108:Polymers; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures
D004146:Dioxanes; D011108:Polymers; C079733:poly-4-dioxan-2-one