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Ann Thorac Surg 2003;76:976-977
© 2003 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Correspondence

Double criss-cross sternal wiring and chest wound infections: Reply

^a Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Rikshospitalet, NO-0027 Oslo, Norway

e-mail: ivar.risnes{at}rikshospitalet.no

To the Editor:

We appreciate the comments of Dr Bottio and colleagues regarding our randomized study comparing intracutaneous and transcutaneous suture techniques [1]. They recommend a combined approach using double criss-cross sternal wiring and a three-layer closure technique. The use of double criss-cross sternal wiring (n = 2 patients) versus single wiring (n = 1 patient) did not influence the incidence of infection in our study. We did not employ a three-layer closure in any of our patients. We do not know whether an extra suture layer would reduce infection by decreasing dead space or increase infection because of the presence of more foreign material. These points should be addressed in future studies.

References

1. Risnes I., Abdelnoor M., Baksaas S.T., Lundblad R., Svennevig J.L. Sternal wound infections in patients undergoing open heart surgery: randomized study comparing intracutaneous and transcutaneous suture techniques. Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:1587-1591.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Risnes, I. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Risnes, I. Related Collections Cardiac - other