Polydioxanone sternal sutures for prevention of sternal dehiscence.
BACKGROUND
Sternal dehiscence and wound instability are troublesome complications following median sternotomy. Classic sternal approximation with stainless steel wires may not be the ideal approach in patients predisposed to these complications. We tested the efficacy of polydioxanone (PDS) suture in sternal closure and in prevention of complications in comparison to steel wires in high-risk individuals.


METHODS
Three hundred sixty-six patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with full median sternotomy and having body surface area (BSA) less than 1.5 m(2) were randomly assigned to receive PDS (n = 181) or stainless steel (SS, n = 185) sternal approximation. The study was focused on aseptic sternal complications, namely bone dehiscence and superficial wound instability.


RESULTS
Both bone dehiscence and superficial wound instability were less frequent in the PDS Group (4 and 3 cases in the SS Group, respectively, vs. no cases in the PDS Group). Cox proportional hazards regression model in the whole study population identified female sex, chronic renal insufficiency, diabetes, advanced age, lower sternal thickness, osteoporosis, corticosteroid therapy, and prolonged CPB or ventilation times as predisposing factors to any of the two studied sternal complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggest that PDS suture can protect against development of aseptic sternal complications following median sternotomy in high-risk patients with little body mass. The adoption of PDS in other subsets of patients, i.e., obese individuals, is to be questioned.
Luciani
Nicola
N
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. nicola.luciani@tiscalinet.it
Anselmi
Amedeo
A
Gandolfo
Fabrizio
F
Gaudino
Mario
M
Nasso
Giuseppe
G
Piscitelli
Mariantonietta
M
Possati
Gianfederico
G
D000368:Aged; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D016687:Polydioxanone; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013537:Sutures
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016687:Polydioxanone