BACKGROUND Surgical site infections following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures pose substantial burden on patients and healthcare systems. This study aims to describe the incidence of surgical site infections and causative pathogens following CABG surgery over the period 2003-2012, and to identify risk factors for complex sternal site infections. METHODS Routine computerised sur...

Dumitrescu A, et al. BMJ Case Rep 2017. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-220237 Description We present the video case report (see online supplementary video) of a term newborn with complete sternal cleft and skin defect 2 cm in diameter, without other associated anomaly, including skeletal (figure 1). She was born by elective C-section due to breech presentation. There was no prenatal diagnosis. The baby w...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate sternal healing over time and the incidence of poor sternal healing in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using bilateral internal thoracic arteries. METHODS This study enrolled 197 patients who underwent isolated CABG using skeletonized bilateral internal thoracic arteries (sBITA) from 2006 through 2009. Postoperative co...

The incidence and treatment of sternal fractures among traffic accidents are of increasing importance to ensure best possible outcomes. Analysis of technical indicators of the collision, preclinical and clinical data of patients with sternal fractures from 1985-2004 among 42,055 injured patients were assessed by an Accident Research Unit. Two time groups were categorized: 1985-1994 (A) vs. 1995...

To The Editor: In the previous article we reported on a patient with a large sternal foramen leading to an area devoid of tracer activity on planar bone scintigraphy and SPET [1]. These defects may present a certain danger when sterna puncture or acupuncture is performed. Because in our experience with radiography and CT imaging of the chest we had only uncommonly found such defects, we decided...

INTRODUCTION During the past five years, ridged sternal fixation has been utilized for sternal closure after cardiac surgery. It is known that this procedure provides better sternal stability; however, its contribution to patient recovery has not been investigated. METHODS Retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent CABG and/or valve surgery in our institution between ...

INTRODUCTION The aim of our study is to present our experience from the management of six patients with deep sternal wood infection and mediastinitis after aortocoronary by pass grafting. CASE SERIES Five Caucasian Greek male patients and a Caucasian Greek female were subjected to aortocoronary by pass grafting. Mean time of sternal dehiscence and mediastinitis was 9-17 (mean 11) days. We man...

A sternal foramen (SF), which arises from the incomplete fusion of the cartilaginous neonatal sternum, is a relatively common anatomical variation found in 2.5% to 13.8 % of all individuals. SFs are usually located at the lower third of the sternal body and their average diameter is 6.5 mm. An SF is subclinical; however, its close proximity to the thoracic organs, i.e., the heart and lungs, ent...

BACKGROUND Primary sternal malignancy is very uncommon. Secondary sternal malignancy is usually caused by either hematological dissemination or by direct extension due to parasternal lymph node involvement from breast or lung carcinoma. CASE DETAILS A 72 years old smoker presented with a dull aching pain over the sternum. Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax revealed osteolytic erosion of m...