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Sternum Stabilization During Cardiac Rehab

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Heart Health

Whether by devouring a book with a passionate eye for plot, rushing out of a movie theater to write a review for some lackluster storyline, or simply enjoying a favorite family narrative, we have all found it to be true: every tale has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Of course, books and movies aren't the only things to experience this uniformity--we see the same pattern in life. One such example lies in undertaking the journey that is heart surgery. Heart patients endure the beginning of the tale, the surgery itself, and then the middle, the healing process, and finally, the end--the recovery. Today, like any good writer, medical science has started to focus on that middle section, finding ways to minimize complications so that the story itself is smoother--and sternum stabilization is just one revolutionary answer.

Adjusting the Sternum Stabilization Harness

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Nurse and patient

Patients who have recently had thoracic surgery benefit greatly from having additional sternum support that a harness provides. Making simple adjustments in the way the Heart Hugger Sternum Support Harness is worn can make all the difference in patient comfort. Follow some of these simple guidelines to make your experience with this product more satisfactory.

Greater Support

If you do not seem to be getting enough support with your Sternum Support Harness, it may be because the Velcro on the handles needs to be tightened. Tighten the Velcro straps on both sides of the handles. Make adjustments in small increments, keeping the handles symmetrical and centered, and the same distance away from your sternum.

Positioning

  • If your Heart Hugger is riding up under your arms, please adjust the suspender-like shoulder straps which controls the height of the chest strap. Loosen the straps equally to keep front handles even in front.

Promote Healing with a Postoperative Bra

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Woman wearing Postoperative Bra

If you or someone you love is recovering from thoracic surgery, it is possible to experience greater comfort and pain management with the use of a Postoperative Bra which offers complete wound support. This device also contributes to a quicker return to pre-operative respiratory function, because when the patient's pain levels are reduced they are more willing to exercise their lungs.

Here are some of the benefits provided by a Post-operative Bra

  • Tension on the incision site is eliminated by the immediate support gained from a post-operative bra. Healing is promoted when the weight and movement of breast tissue is contained and supported. Postoperative Bras reduce the risk of wound complications because they support breast tissue, thus prohibiting any pulling on sternotomy wounds.

The History of Sternal Dehiscence

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Sternal Dehiscence

The midline sternotomy made its entrance into the clinical world, but not without complications. Sternal infection was on the rise. Sternal dehiscence was treated with open drainage and debridement with packing. Results included complications like graft exposure, desiccation of wound margins, osteomyelitis, and death. In 1963, Shucker and Mandelbaum introduced closed management with catheter-antibiotic irrigation. Survival rates increased, but they were still pretty slim. With the mortality risks, there was great desire to discover better wound care.

Changes in Management

First of all, sternal instability was causing mediastinal infections of the wounds. The surgeon must take the time to use the meticulous technique when doing a sternotomy. Proper placement reduces the risks of mediastinitis.

Preventing Sternal Dehiscence

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prevent Sternal Dehiscence

One of the unfortunate side effects of having heart surgery is the long and arduous recovery process that immediately follows the procedure. For some, this recovery process is easier than expected and health returns after a few weeks. For others, there are complications that are associated with recovery. One of these complications is known as sternal wound dehiscence, or the reopening of the sternal wound. Heart Hugger was invented, among other things, as a way to prevent sternal wound dehiscence and providing postoperative sternal support to patients recovering from heart surgery. 

What to Expect After Heart Surgery

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After Heart Surgery

Do you remember the first time you saw a diagram of a real human heart? The sight was probably shocking, considering most of us spend our young childhood years imagining a heart as a simple, rounded shape that exchanges medical accuracy for endearing charm. Your viewpoint of the heart was changing, and suddenly, your own heart seemed alien and extraordinary. After cardiac surgery, the same thing is happening--your viewpoint of your own heart is changing once again. As a result, it can often be a great comfort to simply know what to expect after heart surgery.

What to Eat During Cardiac Rehab

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eating during Cardiac Rehab

The healing process after surgery can be quite long, depending on what procedure was done. You probably know the importance of wound care after surgery. But did you know that what you eat can affect your recovery as well? Nutritious food is incredibly important after surgery. So if you've recently had surgery, consider eating these five foods to help speed up your recovery.

High Fiber Foods
During your recovery, it's important that you include fiber into your diet. Fiber foods aren't just healthy, they play a major role in preventing constipation. You can find fiber in natural foods such as whole grain breads, fruits, vegetables, and cereals. You can eat both fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, but stay away from anything canned. When buying whole grain bread, look for breads that are darker in color. If you opt for cereal, look for cereals that are low in sugar and easy to eat, like oatmeal.

What to Expect For Cardiac Rehab After Heart Surgery

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Cardiac Rehab expectations

Heart surgery is a process that can take months to recover from. Heart Hugger is specifically designed to provide comfort, accelerate healing, and provide relief overall to the chest. Recovery is by far the most important part, so we have listed some things to expect in the hospital, at home, and long-term care that will help you prepare for what is to come. 

Uses of Respiratory Splinting

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Respiratory Splinting

How often do you think about breathing? For most of us, the answer is "almost never." Perhaps we think about breathing when we are underwater, or when we have the breath knocked out of us, or when we're breathing hard during a particularly strenuous exercise. Essentially, we seem to think about breathing most when we can't breathe right--and while that allows us to focus on other things in our everyday lives, it also works against us when breathing isn't so easy. Whenever we have difficulty breathing, it seems that's all we can think about. Luckily, with Respiratory Splinting, breathing can become easy and natural again.

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