HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Augustine T.M. Tang Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tang, A. T.M. Articles by Haw, M. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tang, A. T.M. Articles by Haw, M. P.

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2000;17:482-484
© 2000 Elsevier Science NL

How to do it

Novel application of vacuum assisted closure technique to the treatment of sternotomy wound infection

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Wessex Regional Thoracic & Cardiac Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK

Corresponding author. Tel.: +44-1703-777-222; fax: +44-1703-796-614
e-mail: gusTMTang{at}aol.com

Infection of the sternotomy wound is a potentially devastating and sometimes lethal complication following cardiac surgery. Established treatment may involve a combination of debridement, packing, delayed closure, plastic reconstruction, re-wiring and irrigation dependent on the severity of infection. Vacuum assisted closure, originally adopted for the treatment of non-healing wounds, has recently gained popularity among various surgical specialities in managing complex wound infection. Here we describe this novel technique of managing postoperative sternal wound infection.

Key Words: Negative pressure therapy • Sternal dehiscence • Mediastinitis • Treatment

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Sjogren, M. Malmsjo, R. Gustafsson, and R. Ingemansson Poststernotomy mediastinitis: a review of conventional surgical treatments, vacuum-assisted closure therapy and presentation of the Lund University Hospital mediastinitis algorithm Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., December 1, 2006; 30(6): 898 - 905. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Mokhtari, R. Petzina, L. Gustafsson, J. Sjogren, M. Malmsjo, and R. Ingemansson Sternal stability at different negative pressures during vacuum-assisted closure therapy. Ann. Thorac. Surg., September 1, 2006; 82(3): 1063 - 1067. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Sjogren, R. Gustafsson, J. Nilsson, M. Malmsjo, and R. Ingemansson Clinical Outcome After Poststernotomy Mediastinitis: Vacuum-Assisted Closure Versus Conventional Treatment Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 2005; 79(6): 2049 - 2055. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Zeitani, F. Bertoldo, C. Bassano, A. Penta de Peppo, A. Pellegrino, F. M. El Fakhri, and L. Chiariello Superficial wound dehiscence after median sternotomy: surgical treatment versus secondary wound healing Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2004; 77(2): 672 - 675. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. I. Gustafsson, J. Sjogren, and R. Ingemansson Deep sternal wound infection: a sternal-sparing technique with vacuum-assisted closure therapy Ann. Thorac. Surg., December 1, 2003; 76(6): 2048 - 2053. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. W. Domkowski, M. L. Smith, D. L. Gonyon Jr, C. Drye, M. K. Wooten, L. S. Levin, and W. G. Wolfe Evaluation of vacuum-assisted closure in the treatment of poststernotomy mediastinitis J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., August 1, 2003; 126(2): 386 - 390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Sjogren, R. Gustafsson, B. Koul, and R. Ingemansson Selective mediastinal tamponade to control coagulopathic bleeding Ann. Thorac. Surg., April 1, 2003; 75(4): 1311 - 1313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Luckraz, F. Murphy, S. Bryant, S. C. Charman, and A. J. Ritchie Vacuum-assisted closure as a treatment modality for infections after cardiac surgery J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., February 1, 2003; 125(2): 301 - 305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Doss, S. Martens, J. P. Wood, J. D. Wolff, C. Baier, and A. Moritz Vacuum-assisted suction drainage versus conventional treatment in the management of poststernotomy osteomyelitis Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., December 1, 2002; 22(6): 934 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I.R. Ramnarine, A. McLean, and J.C.S. Pollock Vacuum-assisted closure in the paediatric patient with post-cardiotomy mediastinitis Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., December 1, 2002; 22(6): 1029 - 1031. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Fleck, M. Fleck, R. Moidl, M. Czerny, R. Koller, P. Giovanoli, M. J. Hiesmayer, D. Zimpfer, E. Wolner, and M. Grabenwoger The vacuum-assisted closure system for the treatment of deep sternal wound infections after cardiac surgery Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2002; 74(5): 1596 - 1600. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Losanoff, B. W. Richman, and J. W. Jones Disruption and infection of median sternotomy: a comprehensive review Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., May 1, 2002; 21(5): 831 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Gustafsson, P. Johnsson, L. Algotsson, S. Blomquist, and R. Ingemansson Vacuum-assisted closure therapy guided by C-reactive protein level in patients with deep sternal wound infection J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., May 1, 2002; 123(5): 895 - 900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Brown, F. V. Harper, W. J. Aston, P. A. O'Keefe, and C. R. Cameron Vacuum-assisted closure in the treatment of a 9-year-old child with severe and multiple dog bite injuries of the thorax Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2001; 72(4): 1409 - 1410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Rescigno, M. S. Ballestrazzi, and S. Nazari Continuous high vacuum and primary skin closure in sternotomy wound infection Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., March 1, 2001; 19(3): 375 - 375. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.T.M. Tang Reply to Rescigno et al. Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., March 1, 2001; 19(3): 376 - 376. [Full Text] [PDF]