title: [Vacuum assisted closure therapy improves early postoperative lung function in patients with large sternal wounds].
abstract: Vacuum assisted closure of sternal wounds is a sound strategy for patients with severe poststernotomy mediastinitis and sternal bone necrosis. As a bridging therapy to reconstructive surgery it provides an adequate temporary stabilization of the thorax. It enhances lung function and reduces pulmonary complications.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Herz-, Thorax- und Gefässchirurgie, Städtisches Klinikum Braunschweig. htg@klinikum-braunschweig.de
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kutschka
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frauendorfer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Harringer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003646:Debridement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000601:surgery*; D008838:Microcomputers; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012086:Reoperation; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014618:Vacuum; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*