Sternal closure with resorbable synthetic loop suture material in children

Purpose: The reliability of poly-p-dioxanone (PDS) suture for sternal closu re was tested on 264 consecutive sternotomies in the authors' department fr om April 1987 to May 1998. Methods: The reason for sternotomy was tetralogy of Fallot in 65 cases (24. 6%), ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 38 cases (14.4%), atrial septal def ect (ASD) in 77 cases (29.2%), ASD + VSD in 23 (8.7%), mitral valve replace ment in 22 cases (8.3%), aortic valve replacement in 10 cases (3.8%), and o ther cardiac disorders in 29 cases (11.0%). Results: Sternal wound infection, sternal dehiscence, and mediastinitis occ urred in 1.5% of patients (4 of 264). The overall hospital mortality rate r elated to the mediastinitis was 1.1% (3 of 264) in the early postoperative period. Conclusion: This absorbable suture and our different technique are a safe a lternative to standard sternotomy closure after pediatric open cardiac surg ery. J Pediatr Surg 35:1309-1311. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Compa ny.