Allergic Reaction To Sternum Wires After Heart Surgery?
By Adam Pick on September 10, 2008
Josie just wrote me an interesting email about sternum wires. She asks, “Adam – I’m eight-weeks post-op and, like you, suffering from on-going chest pain. Plus, my skin is sensitive. By chance, have you ever heard of a patient experiencing an allergic reaction to the sternal wires after heart surgery?”
My immediate answer to Josie’s question was a simple no. However, after doing some research there are a few instances in which patients have suffered from allergic reactions to the wires that hold the sternum in place after cardiac surgery.
Dr. Takazawa from Juntendo University in Japan states, “To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a manganese metal allergy to stainless steel wire. A 51-year-old man suffered from a refractory pruritic erythematous wheal after the insertion of a stainless steel wire. The patch test showed strong reactions to manganese, one of the constituents of stainless steel wire. After the removal of all stainless steel wires, the symptoms were much improved, except for mild pruritus on his face.”
Interesting right?
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
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Becca Allison says on September 11th, 2008 at 8:15 pm |
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Josie, |
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Dawn says on July 15th, 2009 at 12:30 pm |
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I had bypass in 2004, about 1-2 yrs later developed what they said was granuloma anulare, no one knows cause. I have had metal allergies as far back as I can remember. A few sternal wires had lifted, had 6 out of 7 removed and within a week, amazingly, the granuloma was lessening. It was almost totally gone, then started developing again. Considering requesting last wire removed. |
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Kim Rowe says on June 28th, 2010 at 3:19 pm |
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Hi Adam, I went through AVR in 2002, and have been having trouble since, getting my INR/PT stable. I have also been through many other problems related to this surgery, one of which is, that I had an allergic reaction to the wires they used in my sternum to wire my ribs back together. Had the surgery in 2002, and have been having trouble with my incision re-opening on occasion, until one morning in 2006. I woke up with blood and pus all over myself and in the bed. The cardiothoracic surgeon was baffled and sent me to a general surgeon, who sent me to a plastic surgeon. He did a wire removal, but I still have trouble with tunneling and have had to have 9 more surgeries to try and contain these infections. I need some advice and nobody seems to want to help. Any suggestions? I would be interested in not having to take anticoagulants anymore, since I am having so much trouble with them. Thanks for listening, |
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Peggy says on June 8th, 2011 at 7:43 pm |
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My husband had heart by-pass heart surgery 2 years ago and still suffers with chest pains sometimes severe. The only response to what’s the cause is that it is \”chest wall pain\” common after open heart surgery – 2 years after??? Can chest wires be removed without reopening of entire incision area? Any other remedies??? |
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