Hyperbaric oxygen therapy with topical negative pressure: an alternative treatment for the refractory sternal wound infection

J Card Surg. 2008 Nov-Dec;23(6):677-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2008.00689.x. Epub 2008 Sep 10.

Abstract

Sternal osteomyelitis is a potentially lethal complication after cardiac surgery. It may be the cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. We present a case of deep sternal wound infection after sternotomy. The patient received three treatments of surgical debridement, irrigation, topical negative pressure (TNP) dressing, and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. Forty-five HBO therapy sessions were administered. After nine weeks, the sternal wound was healed and completely epithelialized. This conservative therapy can be an alternative and inexpensive method for the difficult sternal wound infection patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / instrumentation
  • Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / methods*
  • Osteomyelitis / etiology*
  • Osteomyelitis / prevention & control
  • Pain, Postoperative / etiology
  • Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control
  • Sternum / surgery*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / etiology
  • Surgical Wound Infection / therapy*
  • Thoracic Surgery / methods*
  • Wound Healing