Early Versus Late Sternal Closure in Infants—Perioperative Associations and Outcomes

Background: Delayed sternal closure (DSC) has been used for patients who develop bleeding, chest wall edema, and malignant arrhythmia following cardiopulmonary bypass. Multiple factors can influence the timing of when to perform DSC. We aimed to describe our DSC experience in neonates and infants by comparing outcomes between patients undergoing early (<48 hours) versus late DSC (> 48 hours). We explored the associations between specific clinical and laboratory variables and the timing of DSC. Methods: Retrospective chart review of neonates and infants (<one-year-old) with DSC after heart surgery from December 2012 to December 2018. Patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were excluded. Results: A total of 121 patients were included in the analysis, 34% (n = 41) met late DSC criteria. The overall cohort had a 75% survival rate and a median time for open sternum of 42.5 hours (Q1:23-Q3:65). The median time for open sternum in the early and late DSC groups was 24 hours (Q1:21-Q3:43) and 93 hours (Q1:65-Q3:141), respectively ( P < .01). There was no statistical difference in mortality rate between groups. Patients with late DSC endured longer intensive care unit stays (median 24.3 days [Q1:13-Q3:35.3] vs 36.8 [Q1:23.9, 73.6]; P< .01) and a two-fold longer hospital stay compared to the early DSC group (multivariable analysis: relative risk = 2, 95% CI: 1.5-2.7; P < .01). Univariate analysis revealed patients with late DSC had higher median lactates both intraoperatively (7.6 [Q1:5.9-Q3:10.7] vs 9.3 [Q1:7.5-Q3:12.1]; P < .01) and 24 hours postoperatively (6.5 [Q1:4.3-Q3:10.3] vs 8.7 [Q1:5.7-Q3:14.70]; P = .03). A higher vasoactive inotrope score at 36 hours was associated with late DSC (odds ratio = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.01-1.2; P = .02). Conclusions: Future research that explores additional clinical and laboratory variables that can help guide DSC decision-making and timing is needed.

Deep Wound Infection in Pediatrics after Open Cardiac Surgery

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a serious complication requiring prolonged hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, wound care and dressings resulting in increased cost and resistant bacteria. In pediatric cardiac surgery, Median sternotomy is the most frequently used incision for the correction of congenital anomalies. Sternal wound infections (SWIs) are well described complications of cardiac surgery and can occur in 3% to 8% of children. Furthermore, the mortality rate can increase 2-fold after SSIs. Also, SSIs are associated with an increased length of hospital stay, readmissions, and higher health care expenditures. Mediastinitis is a retrosternal wound infection frequently associated with a macroscopically sternal osteomyelitis. Mediastinitis is uncomfortable for patients, is poorly accepted by parents, leads to a prolonged hospital stay repeated surgery and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Mediastinitis are costly for patients, providers, and health-care institutions. In A recent survey among congenital heart programs, the incidence of mediastinitis has been reported to occur in 0.2–1.4%. Gram-positive cocci are the most common pathogen. Gram negative organisms are increasingly recognized, especially in neonates, and are related to delayed sternal closure. Fungal organisms are not infrequently found. Mediastinitis generally presents 2–3 weeks after cardiac surgery. Child often appear irritable, tired, and febrile. The incision is erythematous and painful. Wound separation and purulent drainage from the incision are frequent. Some but not all will also have sternal instability or dehiscence. Associated bacteremia is not uncommon, present in up to 40% of patients. Postoperative mediastinitis is a life-threatening infection and increase health expenditure. Young age, malnutrition, hypothermia, hyperglycemia, longer duration of surgery, long time of delayed sternal closure, postoperative low cardiac output and long ICU stay were a risk factor of mediastinitis. Stick to1999 CDC's Guideline for prevention of surgical site infection and their update in 2017 especially proper timing of antibiotic prophylaxis and post-operative blood glucose management is important in prevention of these life-threatening complication. procalcitonin can be useful biologic marker of infection. Management of mediastinitis consist of debridement and culture-based antibiotics. Primary closure over mediastinal drain or high vacuum drain gave good result, less time consuming, more economic and more cosmetic. Vacuum assisted closure gave excellent result, but more time consuming, less economic and delayed closure is necessary. Larger studies are needed to compare both techniques in effectiveness and coast benefit.

Surgical site infection after delayed sternal closure in neonates with congenital heart disease: retrospective case-control study

Objectives To determine the prevalence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in neonatal congenital heart disease patients undergoing delayed sternal closure (DSC) and evaluate risk factors for SSI. Methods Hospital records of 483 consecutive neonates who underwent surgical intervention between January 2013 and December 2017 were reviewed, and perioperative variables were recorded. Results We found that the prevalence of SSI was 87.5% when the body weight was less than 1500 g. When the operative age was between seven and 14 days, the probability of no SSI is about 93.9%. When the duration of the aortic cross-clamp was more than 60 min, the prevalence of SSI was 91.2%. The prevalence without SSI was 96.6% when the duration of DSC was less than 24 h. However, when the duration of DSC was more than 120 h, the prevalence of SSI was 88.9% (p = 0.000). Conclusions With the prolongation of aortic clamping duration, the probability of occurrence of SSI increased in neonatal CHD with DSC. The age at operation and body weight are closely related to the occurrence of SSI in neonatal CHD patients with DSC.

175 Sternal Closure with Single Compared to Double or Figure-Of-8 Wires in Obese Patients Post Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim Sternal instability and wound infections are a major cause of morbidity following cardiac surgery, which is further amplified in high-risk patients that include diabetics and patients with high BMI. We compare the different outcomes of different sternal wire closure techniques following median sternotomy for cardiac surgery in obese patients Method A comprehensive electronic literature search was undertaken according to PRISMA guidelines from inception to July 2020 to identify all published data comparing single wire sternal closure to either double wire or figure-of-8 techniques following median sternotomy for cardiac surgery in obese patients, defined as a BMI ≥ 30. Results Eight studies met the final inclusion criteria; single wire versus double wire sternal closure (n = 2) and single wire versus figure-of-8 wire closure (n = 6). Higher rate of sternal instability was noted in single wire vs double wire closure (22/150 (14.7%) patients vs 6/150 (4%) patients, p = 0.003, OR 0.25 [95% CI 0.10-0.63]). Similarly, sternal instability was higher in single wire vs figure-of-8 wire closure technique (33/2422 (1.3%) vs 11/8035 (0.1%), p = 0.04 OR 0.30 [95% CI, 0.09-0.96]) respectively. Conclusions There is benefit in the use of either double or figure-of-8 sternal wire closure techniques over single wire closure in terms of sternal instability. However, as the studies were limited, larger scale comparative studies are required to provide a solid evidence base for choosing the optimal sternal closure technique in this high-risk group of patients.

Factors influencing sternal healing and comparison of different sternal closure methods: a retrospective analysis

Background We determined the factors affecting sternum healing after a median sternotomy based on a retrospective analysis; additionally, we compared the stability of different sternal closure techniques. Methods We collected information involving patients who underwent a median sternotomy in Changzhou First People's Hospital from 2014–2019 and who had chest CT examinations at 1–24 months post-operation. The main outcome included the average sternal healing score at the five specific anatomic levels and adverse events of transverse displacement of the sternum. Results In the short-term healing group, the sternal score was only correlated with postoperative time (HR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.135–0.225, p < 0.001). In the long-term healing group, older people had a higher risk of poor sternal healing than young people (age, HR=-0.028, 95% CI: -0.05–0.006, p = 0.013). Patients with left internal mammary artery dissociation (LIMA-d) had a high risk of poor sternal healing (HR=-0.444, 95% CI: -0.869-0.019, p = 0.045). The binary logistic regression showed that steel wire fixation was a favorable factor for preventing transverse displacement of the sternum (HR = 0.122, 95% CI: 0.007–0.651, p = 0.047). Conclusion In summary, advanced age and internal mammary artery interception are risk factors that affect sternal healing, based on the imaging findings. This new method of sternal closure provides an effective way of ensuring sternal stability of both sternal plates and reduces the risk for complications after cardiac surgery in high-risk patients.