Rigid sternal fixation improves postoperative recovery.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2011

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It was published in: The open cardiovascular medicine journal

2011;5:148-52.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.2174/1874192401105010148. Copyright © Bentham Open.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: During the past five years, ridged sternal fixation has been utilized for sternal closure after cardiac surgery. It is known that this procedure provides better sternal stability; however, its contribution to patient recovery has not been investigated.

METHODS: Retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent CABG and/or valve surgery in our institution between 2009 and 2010. Preoperative, perioperative, and follow-up data of patients with ridgid fixation (group R, n=89) were collected and compared with those patients with conventional sternal closure (group C, n=133). The decision regarding the sternal closure method was based on the surgeon's preferences. Univariate followed by multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the dominant factor of sternal lock usage and to evaluate postoperative recoveries. The factors included in the analyses were; age, sex, coronary risk factors, urgency of surgery, ejection fraction, coronary anatomy, preoperative stroke, renal function, and preoperative presence of heart failure. All statistical analyses were performed by JMP software.

RESULTS: Group R was younger (62 ± 9 in group R vs 69 ± 11 in group C, p

CONCLUSION: Rigid sternal fixation systems were more frequently applied to low risk young male patients. Among these selected patients, ridgid sternal fixation can contribute to early patient recovery.

PubMed ID

21760857

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS