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Sternal closure with resorbable synthetic loop suture material in children
H T Keçeligil1, F Kolbakir, H Akar
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Purpose:
The reliability of poly-p-dioxanone (PDS) suture for sternal closure was tested on 264 consecutive sternotomies in the authors' department from April 1987 to May 1998.
Methods:
The reason for sternotomy was tetralogy of Fallot in 65 cases (24.6%), ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 38 cases (14.4%), atrial septal defect (ASD) in 77 cases (29.2%), ASD + VSD in 23 (8.7%), mitral valve replacement in 22 cases (8.3%), aortic valve replacement in 10 cases (3.8%), and other cardiac disorders in 29 cases (11.0%).
Results:
Sternal wound infection, sternal dehiscence, and mediastinitis occurred in 1.5% of patients (4 of 264). The overall hospital mortality rate related to the mediastinitis was 1.1% (3 of 264) in the early postoperative period.
Conclusion:
This absorbable suture and our different technique are a safe alternative to standard sternotomy closure after pediatric open cardiac surgery.