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European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 8, 46-47, Copyright © 1994 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery

ARTICLES

Sternal wound dehiscence after internal mammary artery harvesting. Logical management

DK Manifold and SR Large
Department of Surgery, Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire, UK.

There is clear evidence that the internal mammary artery is superior to other forms of vascular conduit in surgical coronary revascularisation. Its patency rate at 10 years is of the order of 2-3 times that of autologous saphenous vein. Unfortunately, harvesting of the internal mammary is associated with an increased incidence of sternal wound complications, probably due to temporary sternal devascularisation. The restoration of sternal blood supply has been shown to occur after several weeks. It is proposed by this group that delayed primary closure of dehisced wounds after 3-4 weeks is an effective way of dealing with this malignant and, fortunately, rare complication of arterial coronary artery revascularisation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. J. Doyle, S. R. Large, and F. Murphy Sternal wound dehiscence after internal mammary artery harvesting. Logical management. Part 2 Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, December 1, 2005; 4(6): 511 - 513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]