RESUMEN
To assess wound-related complications in patients undergoing open-heart surgery through minimally invasive approach, and to assess an alternative safer access to standard sternotomy. Over 30 months period ninety patients underwent elective open heart surgery via upper sternotomy incision risk factors for wound infection. Sternal wound complications were classified according to the seriousness and the extent of wound infection. Patients were followed-up for one month after hospital discharge. Of the 90 patients, 73 [81%] were males and 17 [19%] were females. Age ranged between 19-72 years [mean 40 years]. The procedures performed were valve surgery, coronary artery by-pass grafting and septal myomectomy in 86 [95.6%], 2 [2.2%] and 2 [2.2%] patients, respectively. Simple wound dehiscence occurred in 2, superficial wound infection in 6. None had deep wound infection or sternal wound dehiscence. One patient died from prosthetic valve endocarditis without sternal wound complications. Upper median sternotomy significantly reduces the serious complication of sternal wound closure and hence the hospital stay of the patients as well as the utilization of the medical resources