Sternal Dehiscence

Recovering from surgery requires care and consideration. In the case of open heart surgery, the sternal bone is cracked to access the heart and then sewn together with wires. Such a sternal wound has a few post-surgery consequences. One such complication is sternal dehiscence or the reopening of the sternal wound. Here are the do’s and don’ts of preventing sternal dehiscence.

What to Avoid Post-Surgery

It’s important to remember that it takes time to ease back into everyday activities. Refrain from returning to regular exercise routines if they include strenuous movement. Lifting heavy weights can cause excessive tension on wound openings. Holding back from asking for help can also negatively impact your recovery. Enlist the help of one dependable family member or friend in the first week or two. Preventing the sternal wound from opening should be your primary priority and will benefit from outside help.

After cardiac surgery, the sternum needs special care. Protecting it is one of the biggest and most important steps in the healing process--and that's because the risks are especially high. One possible complication is sternal dehiscence, which, while painful and dangerous, can be avoided with the help of proper care and sternum support.

What You Need to Know

Sternal dehiscence occurs when the sternum separates completely into two parts. It is sometimes related to infections of sternum wounds, and is linked specifically to certain types of cardiac surgery. Females are at greater risk than males, but there are risk factors that increase the chances of sternal dehiscence in both genders, including smoking, obesity, multiple operations, and more. The most important things to know about sternal dehiscence are:

After cardiac surgery, the sternum needs special care. Protecting it is one of the biggest and most important steps in the healing process--and that's because the risks are especially high. One possible complication is sternal dehiscence, which, while painful and dangerous, can be avoided with the help of proper care and sternum support.

What You Need to Know

Sternal dehiscence occurs when the sternum separates completely into two parts. It is sometimes related to infections of sternum wounds, and is linked specifically to certain types of cardiac surgery. Females are at greater risk than males, but there are risk factors that increase the chances of sternal dehiscence in both genders, including smoking, obesity, multiple operations, and more. The most important things to know about sternal dehiscence are:

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.

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. 

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.

While you probably have a lot of questions concerning a surgery that you are undertaking, also understand that there are many solutions to any complications that may arise. It is obvious that different surgeries will have different forms of complications, and cardiac surgery is no different. Some of the more common complications that may arise from heart surgery have to do with the sternal wound and the healing process.

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.