1.
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann
; 20(6): 751-3, 2012 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23284135
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.