title: A prospective randomized study of sternal closure: comparison of Mersilene tape versus standard wire closure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To compare in a prospective randomized study Mersilene tape and standard metal wire for complications and pain upon sternal wound closure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were prospectively randomized to undergo sternal closure using either Mersilene tape (n=30) or standard metal wire (n=34). The intensity of postoperative pain from the chest wound was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) on the second and seventh postoperative days and one month after surgery. The examinations with chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) one month after surgery were performed to evaluate the chest wound and sternum. Follow-up data on sternal and wound healing was assessed for up to one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No deaths, sternal dehiscence or infection occurred in either group. No wound complications were observed in either group during the year following surgery. A review of data revealed that there was no difference in the intensity of postoperative pain according to the VAS between the two groups. Chest CT demonstrated that no patients in either group had cuts in the sternum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prospective randomized study showed Mersilene tape sternal closure not to be more closely associated with increased complications or patient discomfort due to sternal wound than the standard wire closure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery II, Ehime University School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imagawa
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawachi
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsunooka
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shikata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; C025539:Lavsan