title: Sternal wound dehiscence after transverse thoracosternotomy for bilateral lung transplantation: report of a case.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Fengshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujinaga
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Mitsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omasa
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bando
mesh_terms: 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