[Suppurative complications following sternotomy]

For a ten-year period when 366 median sternotomies have been performed, 206 of them in cardiac operations under bypass, there were 15 dehiscences of the sternum (4.09 per cent). The method of early revision with subsequent one-story suture and persistently washing aspiration drainage was applied for treatment of grave complication. In 90 per cent of the patients the causative agent of the infection was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in the rest--Staph.aureus. Despite the early intervention, the adequate antibacterial therapy and local application of antiseptic agents, mortality was 46.6 per cent. The authors introduced also the so called nodulating sternotomy, which provides firmer fixation. This operation was performed in 135 patients. Rigid septics and antiseptics play crucial role for nonadmission of infection in operations under bypass.