Issues in postoperative rehabilitation after cardiac surgery

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The review covers the issue of postoperative complications after median sternotomy including acute and chronic pain syndrome, superficial surgical site infections and mediastinitis. Post-sternotomy wearing of bandage prevents sternal dehiscence and wound infection. According to the available data, bandage reduces the incidence of sternal instability and improved sternal healing. However, reduced chest excursion following wearing of bandage can negatively affect the respiratory muscles and result hypoxia. These data inspire the opinion on advisability of only periodic wearing of bandage in postoperative period. Analyzing appropriate literature data, we found that wearing of bandage throughout 6 postoperative weeks 24/7 together with all necessary rehabilitation measures after median sternotomy reduces the incidence of sternal instability, ensures faster healing, shorter hospital-stay, lower incidence of sternal diastasis after sternotomy, number of repeated hospitalizations due to sternal instability and higher quality of life.

Keywords:

coronary artery bypass grafting

median sternotomy

sternal complications

bandage

physical training

breathing exercises

Authors:

Arkhipova N.V.

Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases

Pomeshkina S.A.

Scientific and Research Institute for Complex Problems of Cardiovascular Diseases

Received:

08.02.2022

Accepted:

14.07.2022

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