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Ann Thorac Surg 2006;82:1494-1496
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

New Technology

A Wire-Cutting Clamp Designed to Reduce Complications During Sternotomy Closure

Daniel H. Drake, MD*

Department of Surgery, Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, Michigan

Accepted for publication March 28, 2006.

* Address correspondence to Dr Drake, Munson Professional Building, 1221 Sixth St, Suite 202, Traverse City, MI 49684 (Email: tcbulldog{at}charter.net).

PURPOSE: Sternal wire placement frequently results in glove disruption, wound contamination and personnel skin puncture. The described cutting clamp was developed to simplify sternotomy closure and reduce complications.

DESCRIPTION: Informed consent was obtained from 103 patients who underwent a variety of common cardiac surgical procedures. In each instance, once the cardiac portion of the procedure was completed, the median sternotomy was closed using standard sternal wires and the described cutting clamps. A single set of clamps was repeatedly re-sterilized and used for all cases.

EVALUATION: There were no incidents of unintentional clamp release, glove disruption or personnel skin punctures from the wire. None of the patients had clinically evident sternal wound infections or nonunion. There were no deaths. The functional attributes of the clamps remained constant throughout the study, and no significant wear was detected on the carbide inserts or other components of the clamps.

CONCLUSIONS: The sternal wire-cutting clamp simplifies sternal closure and should reduce complications.






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Copyright © 2006 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.