REVIEW OF THE TECHNIQUE AND COMPLICATIONS OF MEDIAN STERNOTOMY IN THEDOG AND CAT

The surgical and medical records of 67 dogs and nine cats which underw ent median sternotomy over a five-year period were reviewed. The indic ation for median sternotomy and the short and longer term complication s were recorded. Twenty-six of the dogs died or were euthanased within 48 hours of the surgery as a consequence of the pre-existing disease or complications of the intrathoracic surgical procedure. A further fo ur dogs were enthanased between 48 hours and 14 days following confirm ation of neoplastic processes. Thirty-seven dogs were alive at 14 days ; of these, seven dogs (19 per cent) experienced short-term wound comp lications, including haemorrhage, wound infection, thoracic limb neuro logical deficits and excessive postoperative discomfort. Of the 37 dog s alive for longer term follow-up, eight dogs (22 per cent) experience d wound complications, including haemorrhage, sternal fracture, sterna l osteomyelitis and delayed wound healing. No complications were noted in the cats.