Hamburg Eppendorf Cardiac Center Performed a Single-Center Observational Study

Confirmation of Significant Reduction in Deep Sternal Wound Infections

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An independent, single-center observational study was carried out on 2,200 post-cardiac surgery patients in 2010.

All patients were given a Posthorax vest to wear after receiving a median sternotomy—the most commonly used procedure for open-heart surgery. In this procedure, the sternum is cut in half, giving the surgeon full access to the thoracic organs.

Half of the cohort was composed of patients treated in 2009 who had not been given the vest after their operations. Both groups were comparable with regard to age, risk profile, and indication for surgery.

The number of patients experiencing wound healing complications (WHC) in the vest-wearing group (Group 1) was virtually negligible—a mere 7 out of 1,130 patients, or 0.7%.

The non-vest-wearing group (Group 2) had 35 people suffer wound healing complications, or 3.19%.

Two of the most severe complications that can arise after this type of surgery were almost entirely eliminated. These complications are mediastinitis, a swelling and irritation between the lungs, and sternal dehiscence, which is when the sternum wound tears apart. Both mediastinitis and sternal dehiscence (wound opening) are extremely severe forms of complications that require re-operation and can lead to mortality.

Zero of the patients who wore the vest developed any form of deep WHC, which would also necessitate reoperation.