Sternal traction: simple technique to prevent tamponade/compression of the heart
Pramod Reddy Kandakure1, Nagarajan Ramodass, Usha Rani
1Innova Children’s Heart Hospital, Hyderabad, India. drpramodreddy@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Routine closure of the sternum after cardiovascular surgery sometimes causes severe cardiac depression because of tamponade, leading to cardiogenic shock. We describe a full-thickness chest wall traction suture taken parasternally and tied to an intravenous fluid stand. Upward (outward) traction is applied to the anterior chest while the sternum is primarily closed, which allows physiologic improvement equivalent to delayed sternal closure. It is a safe and easily reproducible technique.
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