Research ArticleOpen Access

A Novel and Low-Cost Modified Sternal Closure Technique in Open Heart Surgery(Yerebakan Technique)

Volume 9 - Issue 2

**Kenan Abdurrahman Kara¹, Fatma Ferda Kartufan², Soner Sanioğlu¹,Hakan Öntaş³ and Halit Yerebakan*¹**

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- ¹Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
- ²Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
- ³Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Balikesir City Hospital, Turkey
*Corresponding author: Halit Yerebakan, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Yeditepe Univesity Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Received: September 20, 2018; Published: September 25, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.09.001785

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Abstract

Objectives: Sternal dehiscence that may occur after an open heart surgery is a serious complication that may result in morbidity and mortality from pain in sternum and separation of wound lips to pulmonary dysfunction, superficial and deep mediastinal infection [1-4]. Sternal movement and instability may occur on the first day or weeks later after the surgery depending on the risk factors of the patient, sternal closure material or surgical technique. Sternal closure materials are being used more frequently and increase the costs [5]. We are presenting a study where we closed the sternum of 20 patients in our clinic with a novel technique using a standard steel wire.

Methods: We closed the sternum of 40 patients who underwent open heart surgery in the cardiovascular surgery clinic at Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between January 2017-May 2018 with a new technique.

Results: Patients were assessed at 1 week and 1 month in the early post-operative period and following discharge. Sternal instability, dehiscence or sternum superficial wound site infection or mediastinitis were not detected in the early period. None of the patients used a sternum corset in the post-operative period.

Conclusion: Today, median sternotomy is still the most frequently used method in heart surgery routine despite the advancements in minimal invasive techniques. Sternal dehiscence may be seen at the rate of 0.2%-5% following open heart surgery [6-9]. We think that an excellent sternal fixation and stability is ensured with the technique we used without increasing the costs.

Keywords: Sternal dehiscence; Sternum closure technique; Mediastinitis