Sternal wound dehiscence after transverse thoracosternotomy for bilateral lung transplantation: report of a case.
Transverse thoracosternotomy is the standard approach for bilateral lung transplantation (BLT), but all measures must be taken to prevent breakdown of the sternal wound. We report a case of sternal dehiscence with subcutaneous and peristernal air collections, which occurred 1 month after BLT, performed through a transverse thoracosternotomy, in a 38-year-old man. Surgical exploration revealed that the sternal wires had cut through the bone, causing air leakage of both lungs. We repaired the injured lungs and reapproximated the sternum; however, a pseudo-joint of the sternum developed postoperatively. We report the clinical course of this post-transplant patient to highlight the impact and management of sternal dehiscence.
Chen
Fengshi
F
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Aoyama
Akihiro
A
Kondo
Nobuyuki
N
Fujinaga
Takuji
T
Shoji
Tsuyoshi
T
Omasa
Mitsugu
M
Sakai
Hiroaki
H
Bando
Toru
T
D000328:Adult; D001864:Bone Wires / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed