Background: Sternal complications are common following transverse thoracosternotomy in patients undergoing bilateral lung transplantation. We present a single-institution experience using a next generation rigid fixation system for primary sternal closure following transverse sternotomy for bilateral lung transplantation.
Methods: Retrospective review was performed on all patients who had bilateral sequential lung transplants utilizing a transverse thoracosternotomy from 2016 to 2020. Demographics, baseline characteristics, peri-operative data, and outcomes were collected, reviewed and summarized. Two groups of patients were identified: wire cerclage (Group A), combination plate-and-band rigid fixation (Group B). The primary outcome was sternal complications, which were divided into mechanical and non-mechanical.
Results: Twenty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Three patients (13.6%) were in Group A, nineteen patients (86.4%) in Group B. Two patients in each Group A (66.6%) and Group B (10.5%) experienced a sternal complication. Sternal complications included sternal dehiscence (2), sternal malunion (1), and surgical site infection (1). One patient with plate-and-band fixation (5.2%) had a mechanical sternal complication. Three patients required reoperation secondary to sternal complication.
Conclusions: The utilization of a combination plate-and-band rigid fixation system for primary closure is safe and may be an effective method to reduce sternal complications following transverse thoracosternotomy for lung transplantation.
Keywords: transplant.
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