Sternal wound infection revisited.

The aims of this study are to compare sternal closure techniques (single, figure-of-8, and combined use) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and to investigate their relationship with postoperative sternal complications. Between 2023 and 2024, 645 patients (470 males; mean age 58.5 ± 11.1 years) who underwent cardiac surgery were evaluated. The patients were divided into three groups: Group 1, simple wire (n = 141); Group 2, figure-of-8 (n = 224); and Group 3, combination of these two techniques (n = 280). Preoperative and perioperative data, postoperative complications, and sternal complications were compared between these groups.Result: The distribution ratio of the groups is 141 (22%), 224 (35%), and 280 (43%) in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding basic demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and operative data. There was no difference between the groups in terms of postoperative exploration, delayed chest closure, subxiphoid decompression, superficial sternal wound infection (SSWI), deep sternal wound infection (DSWI), vacuum-assisted closure usage, intubation time, intensive care unit stay, and mortality. The hospital stay was found to be shorter in Group 3 compared to the other groups (median 8 days - 7 days, P = 0.02). In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, we found no difference in sternal complications (DSWI, SSWI) between the three most commonly used closure techniques (simple wire, figure-of-8, and their combination). We found that the length of hospital stay was shorter in patients with the combined technique than in the other two techniques.

Reduction of Sternal Infection in Off-pump CABG by Modified Pedicle Harvesting

Gentamicin-collagen sponge reduces sternal wound complications after heart surgery: A controlled, prospectively randomized, double-blind study

To assess the impact of topical vancomycin (TV) application in decreasing sternal wound infections (SWIs) post cardiac surgery (CS), we lead a meta‐analysis. Twenty‐three thousand seven hundred and forty five participants had CS at the outset of the investigations, according to a thorough evaluation of the literature done up to November 2022; 8730 of them used TV, while 15 015 were controls. To assess the effectiveness of TV application in lowering SWIs following CS, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed with dichotomous technique with a fixed‐ or random‐effect model. The TV had significantly lower SWIs post CS (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.20–0.57; P < .001), and deep SWIs post CS (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.11–0.65; P = .004) compared with control as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Yet, there was no significant difference found amongst TV and control in superficial SWIs post CS (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.07–1.30; P = .011). The TV had significantly lower SWIs, and deep SWIs post CS, and no significant difference was found in superficial SWIs post CS compared with control. The low number of included studies in this meta‐analysis for superficial SWIs calls for precaution when analysing the outcomes.

I read with interest the work of Shaikhrezai and colleagues, in which they elaborated on the influence of the number of sternotomy mechanical fixation points on deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and stated that the reasons for adopting the method was its non-association with increased cut-through in the sternum, sinuses or sternal wound infection. Furthermore, they showed that the risk of DSWI was significantly increased in patients in whom 8 or fewer paired points of sternal wire fixation were used compared to patients in whom 9 or more paired points of fixation were used (P= 0.002) [1]. The prevention of DSWI focuses mainly on achieving mechanical sternal stability and preventing infection; and biomechanical failure is usually due to sternal wire cut-through.[2] So, using more sternal wires will similarly entail more assaults on the sternum, and more when used singly as the force will be more concentrated on the horizontal axis as opposed to using the figure-of-eight type of sternal wiring where the force is distributed along both the horizontal and diagonal axes. For a given force, an increased area occasioned by the use of figure-of-eight type sternal wiring will make the cut-through pressure on the sternum lesser as compare to the use of the single sternal wiring technique; for pressure is force per area. Again, they stated that the incidence of wound sinuses was not associated with the number of wires [46 (4.9%) vs 157 (5.8%), P = 0.16][1]. This statement is also difficult to accept. Logically, the number of wires, especially when the tip is not properly buried into the sternum could irritate the skin and give rise to sinus formation with possible infection. If the number of such wires with the tip pointing out increases, the number of sinuses formed will increase accordingly and vice versa. Thus, the number of wound sinus formation is directly proportional to the number of sternal wires used. The methods of achieving biomechanical sternal stability and prevention of DSWI go beyond the mere application of sternal wires alone. Cheaper and efficient surgical manoeuvres that could also be applied are: the use of an interlocking sternotomy which is a safe, simple and reproducible lazy-S-shaped incision that provides efficient interlocking of the sternum and significantly reduces the incidence of sternal instability and prevents sternal dehiscence and mediastinitis, especially in diabetics [3]. The second method is sternal strapping, which in addition to helping to achieve haemostasis and avoid the use of bone wax, also offers mechanical protection, acting as a shield against bacterial contamination with beneficial effects on sternal healing [4], and prevents direct repeated trauma to the sternal edges during the application of spreader. Lastly, the adoption of surgical techniques such as the proper use of diathermy, judicious use of antibiotics, proper application of sternal wires and adopting good aseptic techniques will lead to the maintenance of low incidence of sternal wound infection [5]. In conclusion, DSWI can be reduced to a low level or prevented by adopting simpler, cheaper and efficient techniques as enumerated. Conflict of Interest: None declared

Sternal wound infections complicate 1% to 8% of cardiac surgeries and carry significant morbidity. We investigated the utility of silver-impregnated dressing in decreasing sternal wound infections after sternotomy cases. A single-institution cohort study was performed as part of a quality improvement trial of a new sternal dressing. Five hundred fifty-seven sternotomy cases were performed in 2015 with application of a traditional gauze dressing. In 2016, 682 sternotomy cases were performed with the use of a commercially available silver-impregnated dressing. Prospectively identified metrics were analyzed for each patient population along with nursing assessments and structured questionnaires. Baseline characteristics of patients in traditional gauze and silver-impregnated dressing groups were similar. Morbidity and mortality were similar. Nine (1.6%) and 12 (1.8%) sternal wound infections were reported in traditional gauze and silver-impregnated dressing groups, respectively. There was no difference in the rate of sternal wound infections (P = 0.80). The number of organ space infections (3) and deep sternal wound infections (3) was the same; however, the number of superficial infections was greater in the silver-impregnated dressing cohort (3 vs. 6). Among patients in either group with sternal wound infection, there were no differences in the proportion of superficial infections (44% vs. 50%, P = 0.8) or the organism cultured (67% vs. 50% staphylococcus, P = 0.45). A total of 22% of patients reported "not satisfied" with silver-impregnated dressing. Silver dressings did not reduce sternal wound infection after sternotomy for cardiac surgery in a large-cohort study. We discontinued the routine use of silver dressings for adult cardiac surgery based on these results because traditional gauze likely represents an equally effective and less costly alternative.

The treatment of deep wound sternal infection requires loco-regional pedicled flaps, usually with muscular flaps. Perforator propeller flaps represent the ultimate progress in the history of reconstructive surgery. We report here our experience with the superior epigastric artery perforator (SEAP) flaps to repair sternal defect. Six patients presenting deep sternal wounds infection were treated with SEAP propeller flap, between March 2015 and June 2017. The mean age was 71.5 (range 53-83) years. The mean length and width of the defect were 16.2 × 7 cm (ranging 8-20 × 4-10). An elliptical skin flap pedicled on the SEAP was harvested in the inframammary fold and rotated up to 90° to cover the defect. All SEAP flaps achieved a successful entire coverage of the defect. The mean size of the skin paddle of the flap was 20.2 × 7.3 cm (ranging 14-27 × 6-9). All flaps were able to provide a complete sternal wound cover. Venous congestion was present in five cases and adequately treated by leech therapy; necrosis was distal in one case, and interesting the entire superficial flap in two cases but with deep tissues remaining viable and able to cover the mediastinum: an infected flap required revision. Satisfyingly, at 2-years postoperative follow-up all-patients were alive with a successful mediastinal cover. The SEAP Perforator propeller flap is an alternative to muscle flaps to achieve treatment of deep and large sternal wound infection.

Objective. To analyze the risk factors of sternal wound infection (SWI) complicating BITA grafting. Material and methods. A retrospective study included patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using BITA grafts between January 2018 and March 2023. Patients were assigned to the diabetic (D) or non-diabetic (ND) groups. Results. The study involves 243 patients undergoing CABG. Morbid obesity was potential risk factor associated with SWI in both groups. The overall risk of SWI was insignificantly higher in the diabetic group (p=0.094). However, deep SWI was significantly more common in diabetic patients (p=0.012). In-hospital mortality associated with SWI was 5.6% and 8.8% in groups ND and D, respectively. There was no significant difference between patients who died with or without SWI in group ND (p=0.830). Conclusion. Morbid obesity was the major risk factor associated with SWIs after CABG using BITA grafts in patients with and without diabetes. Despite small sample size, our results suggest advisability of BITA even in diabetic population.

Surgical site infection is a common complication following cardiac surgery. Triclosan-coated sutures have been shown to reduce the rate of infections in various surgical wounds, including wounds after vein harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting patients. Our purpose was to compare the rate of infections in sternotomy wounds closed with triclosan-coated or conventional sutures. A total of 357 patients that underwent coronary artery bypass grafting were included in a prospective randomized double-blind single-center study. The patients were randomized to closure of the sternal wound with either triclosan-coated sutures (Vicryl Plus and Monocryl Plus, Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA) (n = 179) or identical sutures without triclosan (n = 178). Patients were followed up after 30 days (clinical visit) and 60 days (telephone interview). The primary endpoint was the prevalence of sternal wound infection according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria. The demographics in both groups were comparable, including age, gender, body mass index, and rate of diabetes and smoking. Sternal wound infection was diagnosed in 43 patients; 23 (12.8%) sutured with triclosan-coated sutures compared to 20 (11.2%) sutured without triclosan (p = 0.640). Most infections were superficial (n = 36, 10.1%), while 7 (2.0%) were deep sternal wound infections. There were 16 positive cultures in the triclosan group and 17 in the non-coated suture group (p = 0.842). The most commonly identified main pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (45.4%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (36.4%). Skin closure with triclosan-coated sutures did not reduce the rate of sternal wound infection after coronary artery bypass grafting. (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01212315).

Purpose: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and mediastinitis are devastating complications after median sternotomy. Previous studies demonstrated an effective prevention of sternal wound infection (SWI) using an external sternal corset in high-risk cardiac surgery patients. The aim of this study is to assess the preventive effect of the Stern-E-Fix corset in high-risk poststernotomy female patients.Methods: A total of 145 high-risk female patients undergoing cardiac surgery through median sternotomy were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into group A (n = 71), who received the Stern-E-Fix corset (Fendel & Keuchen GmbH, Aachen, Germany), and group B (n = 74), who received the elastic thorax bandage (SanThorax) postoperatively for 6 weeks. The mean follow-up period was 12 weeks.Results: Incidence of SWI was 7% in group A vs. 17.6% in group B (p = 0.025). One patient presented with DSWI in group A vs. seven patients in group B (p = 0.063). No patient developed mediastinitis in group A vs. four patients in group B (p = 0.121). In all, 4.2% of group A patients required operative wound therapy vs. 16.2% of group B patients (p = 0.026). The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in group B (p = 0.006).Conclusion: Using an external supportive sternal corset (Stern-E-Fix) yields a significantly better and effective prevention against development of sternal dehiscence, DSWI, and mediastinitis in high-risk poststernotomy female patients.

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after cardiovascular surgery via median sternotomy remains a severe complication associated with a drastic decrease in the quality of life. We assessed the risk factors for in-hospital death caused by DSWI and the available treatments for DSWI. Between January 1991 and August 2015, we retrospectively reviewed 73 patients (51 males and 22 females, mean age 67.5 ± 10.3 years) who developed DSWI after cardiovascular surgery via median sternotomy. Pathogenic bacteria mainly comprised methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (49.3%). Fifteen patients (20.5%) died in hospital with DSWI. Treatment of DSWI consisted of open daily irrigation (up to 2006) or negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) (2007 onwards), followed by primary closure or reconstruction of tissue flaps. We assessed the risk factors for in-hospital mortality from DSWI by comparing data from the 15 patients who died and the 58 survivors using propensity score matching analysis of the treatments used for DSWI. Univariate analysis identified age, use of intra-aortic balloon pumping, prolonged mechanical ventilation, tracheotomy, prolonged intensive care unit stay, postoperative low output syndrome, postoperative myocardial infarction, postoperative renal failure, postoperative use of haemodialysis, postoperative pneumonia, postoperative cerebral disorder, MRSA infection, NPWT and tissue flaps as being associated with in-hospital mortality (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified NPWT (odds ratio, 0.062; 95% confidence interval, 0.004-0.897; P = 0.041) and tissue flaps (odds ratio, 0.022; 95% confidence interval, 0.000-0.960; P = 0.048) as independently associated with reduced in-hospital mortality after DSWI. On comparing 22 patients receiving NPWT with 22 not on NPWT using propensity score matching, patients on NPWT had significantly lower in-hospital mortality than those without NPWT (NPWT vs non-NPWT, 5 vs 36%, P = 0.021). In DSWI infected by MRSA, NPWT significantly reduced the in-hospital mortality caused by DSWI (NPWT vs non-NPWT, 0 vs 52%, P = 0.003). NPWT and tissue flaps may be favourable factors associated with reduced in-hospital mortality attributable to DSWI. NPWT as a bridge therapy to tissue flaps may play a major role in treating DSWI and improve the prognosis for patients with MRSA-infected DSWI.

Background: Several studies have suggested superiority of tight glycaemic control in reducing the incidence of surgical site infection and mortality after cardiac surgery. Objective: To compare the frequency of post operative surgical site infections after CABG in patients with tight glycamic control and those with standard glycamic control. Setting: Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. Period: June 2008 to March 2010. Methods: Total of 496 patients were included, they were randomized to tight glycaemic control group (TGC ,n =248) or standard control group(SC, n=248).In TGC group blood glucose was maintained between 90 – 130 mg/dl, while in SC group blood glucose was maintained between 131- 190mg/dl for 48 hours post surgery. Results were prospectively evaluated. Results: Demographic and surgical data was similar in both groups. Patients in TGC group showed significant reduction in post operative superficial sternal wound infection (4 vs 12 , p &lt; 0.05) , deep sternal wound infection (1 vs 7, p &lt;0.05) and leg wound infection ( 2vs 9, p&lt;0.05).There was also non significant reduction in the incidence of post operative mediastinitis (1 vs 3), new myocardial infarction ( 2 vs 3),and atrial fibrillation (10 vs 12). Mortality was equal in both groups (1 in each). Conclusions: Significant reduction in SSI was observed in TGC group and no change was seen in other morbidities and short term mortality in the study.

Effect of bilateral internal thoracic artery harvesting on deep sternal wound infection in diabetic patients: Review of literature

Postoperative sternal wound infection remains a significant complication and generally causes considerable morbidity and mortality. Macrophages play a major role in the process of wound healing. In order to evaluate the efficacy of local injection of activated macrophage suspensions into open infected sternal wound space, a retrospective case-control study was conducted. Sixty-six patients with deep sternal wound infection treated by activated macrophages (group 1) and 64 patients with deep sternal wound infection treated by sternal reconstruction surgery with various regional flaps (group 2), were matched for gender, age, and risk index. In up to 54 months of follow-up of group 1, 60 patients (91%) achieved complete wound closure. Two (3%) late deaths occurred unrelated to the procedure. Mortality rate in group 2 was 29.7% (19/64). Duration of hospitalization was 22.6 days in group 1 vs. 56.2 days in group 2. Patients with deep sternal wound infection following open heart surgery that were treated by activated macrophages had significantly less mortality as well as significant reduction of hospitalization in comparison to the surgically treated group. These results illustrate the advantages of using a biologically based activated macrophage treatment.

The fate of patients having deep sternal infection after bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in the negative pressure wound therapy era