<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background</h3><p>Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) is not a common but known complication and carries high mortality and morbidity rates. This report identifies a successful management strategy for recurrent DSWI, and it is a valuable addition to the medical literature supporting the management of sternal wound infections (SWI) along with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Case presentation</h3><p>This report describes the successful management of recurrent DSWI after OHT in a 52-year-old patient. We performed secondary sternotomy closure along with NPWT for the immunosuppressed patient.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Our case demonstrates that a combination of reduced immunosuppression, adequate antimicrobial treatment, and NPWT can effectively treat complicated DSWI.</p></sec>
</abstract>

BackgroundDeep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) is not a common but known complication and carries high mortality and morbidity rates. This report identifies a successful management strategy for recurrent DSWI, and it is a valuable addition to the medical literature supporting the management of sternal wound infections (SWI) along with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).
Case presentationThis report describes the successful management of recurrent DSWI after OHT in a 52-year-old patient. We performed secondary sternotomy closure along with NPWT for the immunosuppressed patient.
ConclusionOur case demonstrates that a combination of reduced immunosuppression, adequate antimicrobial treatment, and NPWT can effectively treat complicated DSWI.

Sternotomy closure using negative pressure wound therapy after heart transplantation

Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

Seminars in Cardiovascular Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

BackgroundDeep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) is not a common but known complication and carries high mortality...

Sternotomy closure using negative pressure wound therapy after heart transplantation

Published Online: Apr 09, 2023

Page range: 14 - 17

Received: Jul 14, 2022

Accepted: Feb 06, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/semcard-2023-0001

Keywords
deep sternal wound infection, negative pressure wound therapy, heart transplantation

© 2023 Modestas Gudauskas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Sternotomy closure using negative pressure wound therapy after heart transplantation

Published Online: Apr 09, 2023

Page range: 14 - 17

Received: Jul 14, 2022

Accepted: Feb 06, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/semcard-2023-0001

Keywordsdeep sternal wound infection, negative pressure wound therapy, heart transplantation

© 2023 Modestas Gudauskas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
deep sternal wound infection, negative pressure wound therapy, heart transplantation