Recovering from surgery has many consequences and byproducts that are less than desirable for a patient. Of course, there is the pain to deal with, and the road to recovery may be a long one depending on the type of surgery that was necessary. There is also the fact that the patient will need to rely on medical staff and family members for quite some time before being able to move around and function by themselves. While needing to rely on people is certainly an inconvenience, it’s not life-threatening or a medical issue. Sternal wound dehiscence, on the other hand, is a consequence that may occur that is viewed as more serious.
Sternal wound dehiscence is when the sternal closure is reopened after surgery due to a number of factors. While healthcare providers do everything they can do to prevent this from happening, it does occur to some patients and can be quite painful when it does. It is important to practice prevention when it comes to sternal wound dehiscence, often times accomplished with postoperative sternal support.
Causes of Wound Dehiscence
- An inadequate undermining of the wound during surgery.
- Excessive tension on the wound edges caused by lifting or straining.
- Location of the wound is on a highly mobile or high tension area. Risk factors like obesity, smoking, and surgical error.
Tips for Preventing Wound Dehiscence
- Adequate undermining to reduce stress on wound edges.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects.
- Speeding healing through adequate nutrition.
- Use of postoperative chest support.
While nothing is guaranteed, a postoperative chest support device like the ones at Heart Hugger can certainly help to alleviate pressure on a new sternal wound. Because it is patient operated, a patient can squeeze the handles together when they need to get up to move, adjust positions, or need to cough. This takes the pressure off the wound for a few seconds so the patient is able to carry out normal functions.
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