Skeletonisation contributing to a reduction of sternal wound complications: a retrospective study in OPCAB patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sternal wound complications (SWC) are a rare but potentially life-threatening complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Especially the use of bilateral IMA (BIMA) grafts as opposed to single IMA (SIMA) grafts is associated with an increased risk of SWC. Skeletonised harvesting has been proposed to reduce this risk. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the effect of skeletonisation on SWC after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) in a centre with a high volume of off-pump procedures and high frequencies of BIMA.

Methods

From January 2010 to November 2016, 1900 consecutive patients underwent OPCAB surgery at the University Hospitals of Leuven. The first group (n = 1487) received non-skeletonised IMA graft

SUBMITTER: Van den Eynde J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6734214 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature