Skeletonisation contributing to a reduction of sternal wound complications: a retrospective study in OPCAB patients.
Jef Van den EyndeAstrid HeerenDelphine SzecelBart MeurisSteven JacobsPeter VerbruggheWouter OosterlinckPublished in: Journal of cardiothoracic surgery (2019)
This study, using a more sensitive classification of SWC, shows in a large group of patients that, in combination with optimized wound management, the skeletonisation technique is associated with a clear reduction in the incidence and grade of SWC in diabetic patients receiving BIMA grafts. This encourages the extension of BIMA use in OPCAB to this risk population.