Utilizing Instilling Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Vashe Wound Solution for an Infected Sternal Dehiscence: A Case Report

Utilization of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation (NPWTi) for sternal dehiscence wounds secondary to sternal wound infection after surgery has become an accepted therapy. NPWTi accelerates wound healing through macrostrain, microstrain, and cyclic fluid instillation. Wounds benefit from additional superficial infection control with the removal of microorganisms, the release of proinflammatory mediators, stimulation of angiogenesis, as well as mechanical debridement. However, very few cases of utilizing NPWTi in the treatment of sternal wound infections have been reported in the literature. This case study describes the use of NPWTi with hypochlorous acid for the treatment of a sternal wound infection.

Prevention of Sternal Dehiscence Following Use of Bilateral Internal Mammary Arteries in OPCAB

Purpose: We harvested bilateral Internal Mammary Arteries and made LIMA-RIMA Y in all the patients undergoing OPCAB at our center irrespective of the presence or absence of various risk factors for sternal dehiscence. The purpose of this study was to find an effective way of sternal closure in patients undergoing OPCAB with both the Internal Mammary Arteries harvested for grafting. Method: The patients who did not have any risk factors were placed in group I and all of them had a standard six wire closure of sternotomy. The patients having any risk factors were placed in group II. The patients in group II were randomized by including every alternate patient from group II to subgroup II A and every other alternate patient from group II to subgroup II B. Patients in subgroup II A again had a standard closure of sternotomy while in patients of subgroup II B bilateral Robiscek repair and four-five interlocking figure of eight wires were used for closure of sternotomy. Results: The patients who had risk factors for sternal dehiscence had higher risk for sternal dehiscence as compared to patients without any risk factors if bilateral Internal Mammary Arteries were harvested for OPCAB. But if we used bilateral Robiscek repair with four to five interlocking figure of eight wires for sternal closure then the rate of sternal complications in the patients with risk factors for sternal dehiscence was not more than the patients without risk factors. Conclusion: We can harvest bilateral Internal Mammary Arteries for OPCAB without fear of sternal complications even in patients with high risk for sternal dehiscence if we use bilateral Robiscek repair with four to five interlocking figure of eight wires for sternal closure.