A new hydrocolloid dressing prevents surgical site infection of median sternotomy wounds.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective and semi-randomized study was conducted to clarify the effectiveness of a new hydrocolloid dressing placed over median sternotomy wounds using an occlusive dressing technique.


METHODS
The subjects were 253 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), who were randomized to receive either the new hydrocolloid dressing (Karayahesive, n = 117) or a polyurethane foam dressing (Tegaderm plus Pad, n = 136) immediately after sternal wound closure. Karayahesive was left in place for 7 days, whereas the Tegaderm plus Pad was removed on postoperative day (POD) 2 and replaced with an adhesive wound dressing until POD 7.


RESULTS
In the Karayahesive group, complete integrity of the wound was achieved in 91% of the patients, with an infection developing in 3.4%: as a superficial surgical site infection (SSI) in three and as a deep SSI in one. On the other hand, in the Tegaderm plus Pad group, an infection developed in 10.3% (14 patients) of the patients: as a superficial SSI in nine and as a deep SSI in five (P < 0.05). The total treatment costs from the application of the dressing until completion of treatment was 699 yen for the Karayahesive and 910 yen for the Tegaderm plus Pad (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The new hydrocolloid dressing, applied with an occlusive dressing technique to median sternotomy wounds, prevented SSI and was cost effective.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Omura Municipal Hospital, Cardiovascular Center, Nagasaki, Japan.
Hideki
H
Teshima
Hiroshi
H
Kawano
Hideyuki
H
Kashikie
Katsuhiko
K
Nakamura
Tatsuya
T
Imada
Takeshi
T
Oda
Shigeaki
S
Aoyagi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009779:Occlusive Dressings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing