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MEDIAN STERNOTOMY -
STERNUM INCISION IN OPEN HEART SURGERY
By Adam Pick, Patient / Author Of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery
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My Sternum Incision
After
Double Heart Valve Replacement
Surgery (Adam Pick)
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The Sternum Is Broken During Certain Open Heart Valve Operations Including Aortic Valve Replacements And Mitral Valve Repairs
Median sternotomy is a type of surgical procedure in which a vertical inline incision is made along the sternum, after which the sternum itself is divided, or “cracked”.
Breaking the sternum, using this procedure, provides access to the heart and lungs for surgical procedures such as heart transplants and corrective surgery for heart defects including heart valve replacements.
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Median sternotomy is often mistakenly referred to as open-heart surgery.
However, open heart surgery involves incision of the pericadium, and many median sternotomy procedures do not require this.
Open heart surgery bypass surgery usually involves the use of a cardiac pump, also known as a heart-lung machine.
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In the case of heart valve surgery, however, the pericardium is pierced and the procedure is “open-heart”.
As a result of the broken sternum, the sternum is required to heal just like any other broken bone. Cardiothoracic surgeons typically estimate that a broken sternum will heal in a six to nine week timeframe, although healing is highly dependent on the patient.
MINOR COMPLICATIONS: Infection resulting from wound complications has been sited as a small issue with the median sternotomy procedure. Among a consecutive series of 9,279 sternotomies performed during a period of 2½ years, 61 (0.66%) patients developed significant wound complications. Of these, 58 (95.1%) survived. Sternal infection occurred in 36 patients (0.39%). Predisposing factors included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, closed chest massage, prolonged assisted ventilation, and excessive bleeding after operation.
 My Experience With Broken Sternum Recovery?
As you can read in my story, Dr. Vaughn Starnes (USC) had to crack my sternum to perform my aortic and pulmonary valve replacements.
>> Next: To read my thoughts on the potential challenges of a broken sternum during recovery, please click here.
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All rights reserved. Use of this website, Heart-Valve-Surgery.com assumes acceptance of the terms herein. All logos, pictures and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. This website has been developed and presented by Adam Pick, author of "The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery." Patient's stories herein, about median sternotomy, and the language used, is intended to inform and educate. HOWEVER, it does not imply that you or anyone else will receive the same outcome. As with any medical procedure, results will vary among individuals, and there could be pain or substantial risks involved. These concerns should be discussed with your health care provider prior to any treatment so that you have proper informed consent and understand that there are no guarantees to healing. Adam Pick does not offer medical advice on this website. This information is offered for educational purposes only. Do not act or rely upon our information without seeking independent professional medical advice. The transmission of this information does not create any relationship between you and Adam Pick. Adam Pick does not guarantees the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or adequacy of any information available at or from this transmission. Median Sternotomy. Broken Sternum.
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