THE EFFECTS OF STERNUM CLOSURE METHODS ON DEHISCENE

Metin Onur Beyaz* and Ibrahim Demir

ABSTRACT

Objective: In patients undergoing median sternotomy, we compared the the effects of high-cost titanium cables and low-cost steel wire-monoflament absorbable polyglycan suture combination used to close the sternum. Patient and Method: Between October 2018 and October 2019, we examined 98 patients who underwent median sternotomy. The patients were randomly divided into 2 separate groups with similar risk factors. Titanium cables were used in the first group of patients. In patients in the second group, steel wires were supplied with monoflament absorbable polyglycan sutures. Patients who needed postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy due to malignancy were excluded from the study. Results: No dehiscence or mediastinitis was detected in either patient group. Superficial wound infection was seen in 5 of the patients in the first group, and 4 of the patients in the second group; and were successfully treated with antibiotic therapy. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the intensive care stay, the duration of hospitalization, the amount of bleeding and reexploration (p> 0.05). Conclusion: In high-risk patients; We believe that the use of steel wire combined with absorbable monoflament polyglyconate sutures instead of titanium cables with similar soft tissue infection rates is a simple, safe, inexpensive and effective technique.

Keywords: Titanium cables, monoflament polyglyconate sutures, dehiscence.