Review Ann Thorac Surg 1998 Canadian

Risks of repeat sternotomy in pediatric cardiac operations

Russell J, LeBlanc J, Sett S, Potts J — Ann Thorac Surg, 1998

View Original on PubMed PMID 9875754

Tier 2, Indexed

Automatically imported from PubMed based on relevance criteria.

Summary

What Researchers Did

Researchers reviewed patient records to compare the outcomes of repeat sternotomy in paediatric cardiac operations against a control group of patients undergoing their first heart surgery.

What They Found

The study found that hospital mortality was 2.6% for patients undergoing repeat sternotomy, compared to 3.8% in the control group. Cardiac laceration occurred in 10 of 192 patients (5.2%) undergoing repeat sternotomy, and two patients experienced an air embolism successfully treated with a hyperbaric chamber. Patients undergoing repeat sternotomy had longer intensive care unit stays (4 days vs. 2 days) and hospital stays (11 days vs. 7 days) compared to the control group.

Canadian Relevance

This study was conducted by Canadian authors. It also highlights the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for air embolism, which is a Health Canada-recognised indication for HBOT.

Study Limitations

A limitation of this study is its retrospective design, reviewing cases from 1985 to 1997, meaning surgical techniques and patient care may have advanced since then.

This plain-language summary is generated with AI assistance and checked against the source abstract before publication. See our editorial policy.

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Study Details

Study Type	Review
Category	Cardiac
Source	Pubmed
PubMed ID	9875754
Year Published	1998
Journal	Ann Thorac Surg
MeSH Terms	Adolescent; Blood Loss, Surgical; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fontan Procedure; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular; Humans; Infant; Male; Postoperative Complications; Pulmonary Artery; Reoperation; Sternum; Tetralogy of Fallot; Transposition of Great Vessels

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Disclaimer: This study summary is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. The information presented reflects the findings of the original research authors and may not represent the views of Canada Hyperbarics. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.

Last reviewed: April 17, 2026 | Reviewed by: Canada Hyperbarics Editorial Team | Editorial process | Research sources | Counts & methodology