title: Adhesive strips versus subcuticular suture for mediansternotomy wound closure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This prospective randomized study was undertaken to compare the use of the 3M™ Steri-Strip™ S Surgical Skin closure system with a running absorbable subcuticular suture technique for skin closure following a mediansternotomy for cardiac surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients undergoing a mediansternotomy for a cardiac surgical procedure were prospectively randomized to either Steri-Strip S or subcuticular suture for wound closure. The wounds were evaluated on postoperative days 7 and 21 for erythema, edema, pain, cosmesis, and the time taken to close the incision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skin closure with Steri-Strip S was faster (5.33 ± 1.32 minutes steri-strips vs. 6.07 ± 0.91 sutures; p = 0.06) and resulted in significantly less erythema and edema, but no difference in pain or cosmesis after seven days. Following 21 days, there was no difference in pain, edema, or cosmesis between the groups. However, patients receiving steri-strips continue to have less erythema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Steri-Strip S and absorbable sutures are effective techniques for skin closure following a mediansternotomy incision for cardiac surgical procedures. Steri-Strip S can decrease the amount of erythema, but results in no significant difference in pain, cosmesis, or edema compared to the traditional subcuticular wound closure technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Boston Medical Center and the Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Harold L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: Carmel A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cabral
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053832:Surgical Tape; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013908:Thoracotomy; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing