Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2021.60.03.14

Thermoactive Nitinol Clips as Primary and Secondary Sternal Closure after Cardiac Surgery – First Experience in Slovenia

Miha Antonič orcid.org/0000-0002-6600-0711 ; Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
Rene Petrovič ; Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
Nina Gorišek Miksić ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Department of Infectious Disease and Febrile Conditions, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

Abstract

Although there has been a trend towards minimally invasive and sternum-sparing
procedures, median sternotomy is still a standard surgical approach in cardiac surgery. Many techniques
and innovations for closure of sternal osteotomy have been developed with contradictory results.
In this report, we present our first experience with the nitinol-made sternal closure system in the
primary, as well as secondary closure of sternal osteotomy. A small series of 20 patients had their
sternotomy closed with Flexigrip clips. In one case, the Flexigrip clips were used in secondary wound
closure in a patient with deep sternal wound infection after full sternotomy and coronary bypass surgery.
After 6-month follow-up, all patients were doing well with their sternums clinically stable and
the sternotomy wounds completely healed. In conclusion, Flexigrip clips offered a stable alternative to
steel wires in primary, as well as secondary sternal closure. Moreover, in secondary sternal closure, the
thermoactive clips offered safety advantages over the standard wire cerclage technique because the
need for dissection of the substernal adhesions could be avoided.

Keywords

Median sternotomy; Wound closure; Nitinol clips; Surgical wound infection; Cardiac surgery

Hrčak ID:

271619

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/271619

Publication date:

1.9.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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